Shrouded Destiny

by Richard William Bates

  During the confusion, the Secret Service had whisked Jesus and Crowley into the United Nations building and taken them to a secured area, and the news spread rapidly that both of them were unharmed. Jesus indicated he intended to deliver the address, as planned.

  Meanwhile, a police ambulance loaded the bloody corpse of one Sergeant Major Maurice William Dowd. Now the speculation would begin. Was he a madman acting alone, or was he a part of a deeper conspiracy? Maurice William Dowd would have found all of that speculation amusing. He had done what he had done for the love of his God, and for no other reason.

  * * * *

  "DID YOU SEE that?” Ray Cutler leapt from his chair as he watched three bullets fall from Jesus’ hand as he was being pushed to the ground by the secret service. It was one of countless replays of that amazing moment, which was being broadcast relentlessly over and over again.

  "He caught the goddamned bullets!” Ray said excitedly.

  Harold Bennett and Stuart Hatcher exchanged incredulous looks.

  "How could he do that?” Ray said in disbelief.

  A familiar voice spoke out from behind them. “Mr. Cutler, you, who have witnessed the miracle of restored life, can ask such a question?"

  It was Angelino. Somehow, he, Susan, and the other Knights were suddenly in Arnold's office.

  "What th...?” Arnold stammered. “How did you get in here?"

  Ray chuckled, “Don't try to figure it out, Arnold. He does these things all the time. Susan, how are you?"

  "A bit dazed at the moment, Ray,” she smiled. “But otherwise, pretty good. So you're part of this mini-conspiracy, I see. I should have known.” Her eyes twinkled playfully. He smiled in spite of himself.

  Angelino walked briskly toward the two senators and extended his hand. “Senator Bennett, it is an honor to meet you. Senator Hatcher, I'm glad to see you here.” The senators accepted the warm handshake cordially.

  "It is interesting to meet you too, at last, Father Angelino.” Harold said, somewhat warily.

  "It's OK, Senator,” Angelino smiled broadly. “I promise you, you will not go blind or insane from contact with me.” Harold smiled back. If Angelino was as crazy as was reported, he didn't display it openly.

  The rest of the introductions were made all around.

  "So, I hear we had some excitement at the United Nations a little while ago,” Angelino said.

  "Yes,” Arnold answered. “We've been watching the coverage on television. Have you seen that yet?” He pointed to the television, which was once again running the scene of the bullets falling from Jesus’ hand.

  Susan's eyes grew wide. Angelino, Cassidy, Imahoptec, and Billy watched with clinical interest.

  "Jesus is a powerful man,” Angelino offered. “But catching bullets is the least of those powers."

  "What manner of man have you unleashed upon us, Angelino?” Ray asked somberly.

  "You feel I made a mistake in resurrecting him, don't you, Mr. Cutler?"

  "I don't know for sure, Father. All I know is, I don't find this Jesus to be very Godlike in his manner or his intentions."

  "That's because he is not the Son of God,” Angelino said matter-of-factly.

  Everyone in the room uttered a collective gasp ... all but the Knights “What??"

  "What do you mean, Father Angelino?” Susan exclaimed.

  "I think you must pay another visit to Doctors Hamilton and Barber. They will understand what I just told you,” Angelino suggested. “For now, I just wanted to let you know your efforts are known and appreciated. We will assist you in every way we can, when we return."

  "Return?” Susan rolled her eyes. “Don't tell me you're taking off again, Father Angelino."

  "I'm afraid we must, my dear,” Angelino took her hand gently in his. “But this time you must accompany us. There are still eight more Knights to gather, and our time is getting short. And as I told you, it is our charge to keep you safe now."

  His eyes carried an urgency she had not seen in them before. She nodded her assent. “Of course, Father Angelino. Whatever you say."

  Susan noticed that Arnold, Ray, Stuart and Harold were exchanging uncomfortable glances. “What aren't you telling me, Ray?” she asked warily.

  Ray looked first to Arnold then to Harold, as if asking if he could tell what they had discovered. From behind Susan, Angelino gently shook his head. Did he know?

  "Um, nothing, Susan. I think we've all been a little shaken up by the events of the day, that's all.” Angelino nodded his thanks.

  "Come, Susan. We have a long journey this time. Our next stop is India."

  "Mountains again, Father Angelino?” Monsignor Cassidy grimaced.

  Angelino laughed loudly. “We need to get you a membership to a good gym, Monsignor.” Then, getting back to business, he said, “We must leave."

  With that, the five of them were suddenly engulfed in a bright white light that blinded the others briefly. When the light subsided, Angelino, Susan and the others were nowhere to be seen.

  "I've gotta learn how to do that,” Ray said absently, staring into the empty space.

  Stuart was obviously playing a game of catch-up. “Am I the only one here who finds all of this a bit, uh ... out of the ordinary?” The others smiled in understanding. Dealing with Father Angelino tended to redefine the limits of reality, no doubt about it.

  "No, Stuart. Its all a bit on the weird side,” Arnold said.

  "Ray, why did you change your mind?” Harold asked.

  "Change my mind? About what?"

  "You were about to tell her, weren't you? But you didn't. Why?"

  "I'm not sure,” he answered thoughtfully. “Angelino seemed to know what I was about to say and he stopped me. I decided to trust him on that."

  "You have a great deal of respect for this Angelino fellow, don't you, Ray?” Harold asked. “Why?"

  "I don't know, Senator. Do you get a different sense of him than I do?"

  "Actually, I have the same instincts about him you do. I just can't explain to you why that should be. He seems to be way out there. I thought maybe you could help me understand the trust he seems to inspire so easily in all of us."

  "I don't know, Harold. I guess at this point, we have to trust somebody. Why not him?"

  "Yeah, I guess you're right."

  Stuart spoke up next. “Was he serious when he said Jesus is not the Son of God?"

  "I've never known Angelino to be less than serious about things that are serious,” Ray said. “But I have to admit, this one seems like a bit of a stretch to me. If Jesus was cloned from the authentic Shroud, then it has to be him. And if it is him, he is the Son of God. At least that's what all the scientists say on all the talk shows."

  "Maybe we should follow his advice and go see Steven Hamilton and John Barber,” Arnold suggested.

  "Ok,” Harold agreed. “But first I want to watch Jesus’ speech at the UN. They said on the news he still intended to give it, despite the attempt on his life.” He was concerned by that. It would certainly deepen the support and admiration for Jesus for him to go forward with his speech after such a close brush with assassination. Bravery always inspired admiration. All of that was bound to make Jesus and the others all the more formidable, and they were formidable enough now, without the added bonus points this incident was bound to give them.

  It wasn't going to be easy and for the first time, Harold began to entertain the thought they might actually fail.

  * * * *

  "NUMBER ONE! THIS is an honor,” Pope Timothy II greeted his surprise guest warmly “What brings you to the Vatican?"

  "I am here as a courtesy, to inform you we have placed a death warrant on your old friend, Angelino. I thought you would want to know."

  MacArthur considered this for a moment before responding, “What happens to Angelino is of little concern to me. Our friendship ended decades ago, when he turned from the church and began teaching heresies."

  "You must also be prepared for the political
fallout of his death. Of necessity, it will be a spectacular death. The might of the Council must never be questioned again. Suspicion will immediately fall upon us, and the Vatican, not that anyone will be able to touch us. But it is still important to keep the hearts and minds of the people behind us,” Number One said.

  "May I know how he will die?” the Pope asked.

  "In a moment. This much I will tell you, however. We have discovered the location of the twelfth Knight of the Ascension. When Angelino and the others arrive to enlist him, all twelve will be destroyed."

  "I see.” MacArthur was beginning to understand some of the pressures his predecessor had labored under. So much harm had to be done to achieve the ultimate agenda, but their ends surely justified any means to accomplish them. No matter how much one believed in the Agenda, it was often difficult to live with what had to be done to achieve it. It required a cold heart.

  "Number One, Angelino will not be easy to eliminate. He is shrewd and alert. Plus, he must know he is a marked man, which will make him careful and hard to flush out."

  Number One smiled. “We have an ally now. One we could never have anticipated even in our most ambitious dreams."

  "What ally?"

  Number One gestured with a wave toward the open part of the room. A brilliant white light appeared, blinding MacArthur. He lifted his hand to cover his eyes. As quickly as it appeared, the light diminished, and standing in the room stood Jesus.

  The jaw of the Bishop of Rome dropped. Was this some kind of trick?

  "Good evening, Your Holiness,” Jesus said with mock ceremony. “It is good to see you once again."

  "I ... I ... don't understand,” MacArthur finally managed to stammer.

  "Jesus and the Council have been meeting secretly for a few weeks now. We were pleased to discover he supports our efforts at achieving international unity and peace. We thought it best to keep our alliance quiet for a while. I think you can understand our reasoning."

  "Of course,” MacArthur conceded.

  "And since I was ultimately responsible for his reincarnation, I was naturally pleased to welcome him into our confidence."

  "Please have a seat, Gregory. I have asked Jesus to join us in order for him to share the plan for the elimination of Angelino and the Twelve Knights of the Ascension with you. Once his plan is implemented, all resistance to our agenda will be eliminated forever."

  MacArthur sat at the long table as Jesus recounted his plan. When Jesus was finished, MacArthur found he was trembling. He felt as if the blood had raced from his face and, indeed, his face had grown pale white in horror. Was this necessary? At what point did the ends no longer justify the means? MacArthur had no illusions about himself. He knew he was a cold and cruel man and he made no apologies for that. But what Jesus intended was too horrifying for even him to contemplate easily.

  He struggled to maintain his composure. Number One and Jesus were watching closely for his reaction. If they suspected for one minute he might work to oppose them, his life was over where he sat. Of course he would never work against the Council. He was too committed to consider such a thing. He worried they might misinterpret his shock for resistance, however. By force of will, the blood returned to his face and his breathing returned to normal.

  "Do you like my plan, Your Holiness?” Jesus asked.

  The pope attempted to moisten his lips with a dry tongue and was finally able to utter, “It is thorough and ... final."

  Number One laughed loudly. “Yes, it is final, isn't it? Irreversible, too."

  "I must return now,” Jesus said. With that, he disappeared in the same brilliant light in which he had arrived.

  Number One regarded the Pope intently. He had taken a calculated risk entrusting the plan to him. There wasn't anything he would be able to do to thwart the plan. He would be monitored closely. His phones and computer lines were already tapped, and the papal guard was also loyal to the Council, so there was no chance of MacArthur sneaking off to alert Angelino. Number One had banked a great deal on MacArthur's hatred for the renegade priest. In the end, hatred was even a better guarantee of loyalty than money. The Jews had a way of expressing it: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The real question Number One would eventually have to confront was, what incentive would keep MacArthur loyal once his nemesis had been dispatched?

  "I, too, must return. I have been absent from America too long. I have details to attend to back there.” He started for the door, but stopped short and turned around and said, “Remember Gregory. Betrayal is a capital offense. Do not betray me."

  Then David Warrenger, CEO of Intelligence, Inc., funding source of the Genetic Engineering Project, and Chief Magistrate of The Exalted Council of Most Highs—The Most Exalted Number One—left the room.

  Chapter 20

  JESUS STEPPED UP to the podium amidst an enthusiastic standing ovation from the assembled UN delegates. Loud cheers erupted as he acknowledged the ovation by raising his arms out to his side in a gesture of embrace for the entire assembly. Harold Bennett was watching on television in Arnold's office. He frowned. It was just as he feared. Without uttering a word, Jesus had further captured the hearts and minds of those gathered there.

  After ten minutes of roaring approval, Jesus waved the audience to silence.

  "Good people of the World, I thank you for your kindness. This time there will be no crucifixion."

  The crowd roared its approval.

  "As you all know, I have come back to you to fulfill a mission. That mission is to help mankind achieve its oldest and most primal desire. Peace and harmony."

  Once more, the assembly erupted into enthusiastic applause.

  "There is a hidden plan to all events which often does not reveal itself until a comfortable passage of time has passed. The expectation of my arrival had been imminent for many centuries, and yet I did not come. Now I have arrived. What is different about these times that I should arrive now? The answer can be found in this illustrious body of great men, assembled for the cause of world harmony and peace."

  Damn. He's got the soul of a politician, Harold thought.

  "Your cause has reached the point all great causes reach sooner or later ... the point at which it requires the intervention of a higher power. My Father has arranged my arrival to provide you with that assistance."

  Raucous cheers filled the hall, lasting for another five minutes.

  "Plenty of time for bathroom breaks when he speaks,” Harold cracked, to an amused Stuart.

  The cheers of the delegates finally subsided and Jesus continued.

  "I have studied the bloody history of the past century. So many lives have been wasted in futile wars, oftentimes fought for no better reason than to protect one country's assets from the presumed or manufactured threats of another. Others have been fought for just causes. For many decades, the two greatest powers of the day stood on the brink of what could have become the most destructive conflict in history ... a conflict few would have survived.

  "But in this century, mankind has also achieved many wonders. The elimination of diseases which had plagued you for centuries. The advent of global communications. Economic growth which has brought the riches of a sultan into the homes of many average citizens. You have accomplished much.

  "Yet the dream of world peace and a united planet eludes you. Together, we shall achieve that last elusive dream of mankind."

  Once more, loud applause interrupted Jesus’ remarks.

  "To accomplish this agenda, President Crowley and I are going to be presenting a seven point program to the American congress in the next few days. I am here to ask this illustrious body to support this program, and to ask each of the delegates here today to take that program back to your respective governments. In this way, with a massive global effort behind it, the cause of peace and one-world unity will begin with a built in momentum which will make it virtually unstoppable.

  "First, we are calling for a commitment to an equal and fair distribution of wealth and
resources. In a world where the wealth of the few is flaunted in the face of the hungry, such offensive inequities cry out for justice. Our program demands this justice for all.

  "Secondly, we pledge the American people to a deeper commitment to the protection of the planet's resources. We all inhabit this fragile world and we all share an equal responsibility for its protection.

  "Third, we demand fair treatment of all workers in every country. The practice of paying foreign workers slave wages in order to increase profits must and will end, once and for all. Along with this, we propose an international minimum wage for all workers, regardless of the country in which they work.

  "Fourth, we ask this body to support the proposition that every man, woman, and child is entitled to quality medical care, regardless of their economic station in life. It is an abomination that only the rich and powerful enjoy high quality health services.

  "Fifth, we hold the position the children are the future of the world. Therefore, we will be presenting legislation before the American congress which we are calling the ‘Children's Bill of Rights.’ This bill of rights will ensure no child will be a powerless victim to abuse, neglect, or emotional deprivation.

  "Related to this, we propose a unified and concerted effort, by means of an international committee formed by this body, to create universal standards of education for all children, with enforcement backed by legislation in each nation. I have personally asked our own Secretary of Education, Armand Mathias, to take the initiative toward this goal here in America.

  "Sixth, we propose an international initiative for senior citizens, which will encompass such diverse areas as providing for adequate retirement income in their golden years, recognition of the specialized health care needs of our older citizens, and the right to a dignified death when they are no longer able to live a quality life.

  "Seventh, and finally, we will advance and promote, with the full weight of influence and commitment of this administration, the creation of a true international government which will give all nations, from the smallest province in Africa to the great nations of Europe and the United States, an equal voice in the affairs which affect its citizens. It is time to make the United Nations more than just a symbolic body, but a body which carries with it the full weight of law and the ability to enforce those laws through a legitimate and internationally recognized court of justice, and a police force comprised of participants from all member nations.