She could still feel the ripples of the pain. Now she finally understood what happened in Gethsemane. The ankh must have enhanced her immune system and given her the capacity to regenerate extremely quickly.
Deep inside, she could still feel tingling as if her wound was still healing itself.
In her mind, there were so many ideas related to hemostasis and proliferation remodeling phases of how platelets aggregate together to secrete the factors that recruited other immune cells and ultimately healed herself so quickly.
She had to act immediately. Looking around, she grabbed an alabaster orb the Phoenix had kept on his office desk. She dropped it over his head and shattered his skull.
She was, at the same time, horrified by her gesture, but she was acting in self-defense.
He could not be allowed to survive as his power was too great. She would never get a second chance like this.
She didn’t know her actions could be so harsh, but this was for Helene and especially her parents.
Where is Neo? What could he be keeping him?
She looked at the desk screen and saw Neo almost collapsed in a small room. Next to the image, there was a digital menu with several control buttons.
She randomly pushed a few, and behind the desk, a secret wall mechanism activated and revealed a hidden chamber. Lydia quickly ran towards the opening and found Neo unconscious.
Next to him, there was a terrified young woman who was holding two children; they must be the family of Mark Hopkins, Lydia realized.
Suddenly the voice of the Vice President’s A.I. assistant announced gravely: “Security alert. Critical medical emergency.”
And in the next several seconds, security forces stormed inside…and were left perplexed by the scene unraveling before their eyes.
◆◆◆
§EPILOGUE§
VATICAN, THE POPE’S OFFICE
POPE PETER II and Salvatore were watching the extraordinary press conference hosted by the newly elected President of the European Commission, who had Lydia and Neo next to her.
This was live-streamed on most of the world’s media. Its importance was similar to that of the first humans reaching the moon in 1969.
The Breaking News caption announced: “While trying to find a cure for the COVID-19 virus Belgian Geneticist Lydia del Biondo and her research partner Neo Moore, discovered a universal cure for any viral infection by exponentially enhancing the reaction capacity of the human immune system. The treatment Graal2020 consists of a single-dose vaccine shot.”
“You were right, Salvatore; she was the key to our salvation, and now is the moment to start a new era and face the College of Cardinals,” a profoundly emotional Pope said with his eyes in tears.
Lydia asked the Pope to make the announcement himself while pleading for a global ceasefire, as humanity would step into a new era of Hominis Immortalis.
The cardinals were frowning in their places, filling the Sistine Chapel with loud chatter.
“My brothers, please a moment of silence. You have probably seen the news from one hour ago,” the Pope paused for a second, looking directly at the most conservative cardinals.
“Our Church was based on a lie.”
“Jesus wanted another path. Lydia del Biondo, the scientist who found the cure, used this artifact to extract the knowledge our savior, Jesus Christ tried to bestow upon us millennia ago but was stopped by the forces of evil, hungry for power.”
“I have decided that all the churches around the world will be temporarily converted to hospitals where the cure will be freely distributed to anyone in need.”
Most of the cardinals’ faces were frozen. The elderly ones were even refusing to try and understand what the Pope was saying.
“Make no mistake; I truly believe Saint Malachy’s prophecy was true; God bless him.”
“He was right, and God spoke through him, as he did through Jesus.”
“The Church will be transformed from this day forward.”
“The ultimate gift that Jesus had to offer and which I will announce in the next hour is immortality. The treatment not only heals any disease, it allows a constant rejuvenation at the cellular level.”
“It is a miracle that happened only through the will of God and Jesus.”
◆◆◆
TWO HOURS LATER
The Pope looked up at the Sistine Chapel ceiling and voiced his worries.
“God, I was wrong; I doubted Lydia’s intentions, and this could have cost us everything, causing us to miss the greatest chance for humanity to evolve.”
“I am not worthy of being the Pope anymore. Should I resign?”
“I need your holy guidance to gather force and reform the Church in this new era of humanity.”
“Since Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden, they have never witnessed such a level of power. Will they use it wisely?”
“Alea iacta est,” a voice said. It was coming from a dark cloaked figure standing next to the altar.
The Pope raised his eyes from his prayer and was startled by the deep voice, which sounded both familiar and comforting.
“Pietro, you are the embodiment of God on Earth; use this power for the greater good.”
“You need to convince the servants of the Church to reform it from within. Break the siloes. Transform the churches into centers to enlighten the people.
“Help them to cope with the idea of immortality. Break all the chains and try to make peace among all religions.”
“You have the chance to reshape this world.”
“Our struggle is not yet at an end, as more forces of the evil which lurk in the dark will try to stop you.”
“Nobody is ready to quickly give up all the power they managed to amass,” the feminine voice said.
The woman came closer to the Pope and started to take off her hood. The Pope seemed mesmerized by this apparition, and when her face was finally revealed, he could not help but gasp in surprise.
In front of him was standing Helene de Moncler with her face radiating kindness. While offering her hand, she said, “I will give you my unconditional support to complete my Son’s mission, who sacrificed for the good of all.”
“Pietro, I will do my utmost to help!”
“Do not be afraid!”
“I know…, you must have so many questions…”
“Together, we’ll succeed!”
◆◆◆THE END◆◆◆
If you enjoyed this adventure, join Lydia again in the next book.
◆◆◆
Lydia was mesmerized by the gentle smile of the Cambodian gods. She was holding his hand as he would follow her anywhere in the world.
“Their smile reminds me of the one of Mona Lisa’s. The only difference is that da Vinci probably never step foot in this temple,” he said, kissing her passionately.
The Jesus Christ Cypher Page 23
