Time: Present Day

Location: Vatican City

Peter spent the days leading up to the SPECTRE meeting in the Secrets Vault looking at the books and files that he had been granted access to. He knew there was another room beyond his access clearance. He could see a red door at the end of the corridor at the other end of the room he had been let into by the two guards outside. He mused that in his younger days he may have been tempted to try and breach that door to gain a look inside. If it had not been for the guard he may still have made an attempt, save for the fact, that this was a special Swiss Guard, a Swiss Guard with a Glock in a holster on his right side, and an Uzzi mounted on the wall to his left side, as well as his traditional spear.

He had been told that only two people had access past this guard, the Black Pope and Guardian Angel of Secrets. Not even the Pontiff had access, nor did he want to, according to Graz. Enrico and Graz were the only two people alive who had seen what was on the inside. It was never discussed, not even by the odd rumour monger or speculative staff member in the Vatican. It seemed the mere mention of it's existence was taboo. Peter had then, to content himself in the knowledge that he would someday soon get access, once he had officially succeeded to Graz's current role.

Peter turned back to the books he had taken down from the shelves and started going through the ancient manuscripts. He wore white gloves so as not to get any skin contact on the delicate pages.

Ever since Graz had told him about the manuscripts and letters that had been buried by Mary Magdalene, he had spent every free hour he had pouring over them. They were somewhat difficult to read, as Graz had warned. As much in that the translations left some room for speculation on the proper meaning, as in the destruction of long held beliefs and dogmas that the Church continued to promulgate to the general populace including the Cardinals, Archbishops, Priests and Deacons.

Peter read again how Jesus had escaped crucifixion by agreeing for his twin brother, Thomas to take his place.

He had had children by Mary Magdalene and Mary had been dismayed when having escaped death once he had continued to upset the established religious hierarchy by preaching, what they had termed, blasphemy. She wrote that she feared that it would be discovered that the person calling himself Thomas was in fact Jesus. Either the deception would be uncovered or Jesus would again upset people to the point of endangering not only himself, but his family and his disciples. Her fears had proven correct when Jesus, as Thomas, was accused of being a sourcerer and was killed in India.

He was so engrossed in the story that Mary had written that he hadn't noticed Graz entering the room and coming up behind him.

Graz layed his hands on Peter's shoulders and said, "Interesting reading, eh Petros?"

Peter gave a startled yell that put the guard on alert. He felt slightly uncomfortable whenever Graz made physical contact with him, and it was happening much more frequently than he liked now.

Peter disguised his disgust in the usual way by asking a question unrelated to the physical contact he was recoiling from. "When are you going to tell me what's behind that door?" he asked gesturing past the guard at the end of the long corridor.

"In good time, Petros, all in good time. The Secrets behind that door are of a more intimate nature requiring an intimate moment for them to be tranferred. They relate more to your new role as Guardian of the Secrets. They will demonstrate the extraordinary lengths some of your predecessors have had to go to to protect the Secrets, to protect the Church.

They will also give you a completely new slant on many moments in history. You will, at last, become one of only four or five people in the world who really know how we got to where we are in historical terms. Why history really unfolded as it did. Who the real power brokers are behind the international financial and political scene. I can tell you that what you will learn will amaze, and at the same time frighten you, as it did me, when the door was opened to me by Enrico. That was many years ago now, but I still remember that feeling and my apprehension, and the glorious sense of being in an all powerful position. Of having a God like power over life and death. It can become quite addictive so you need to guard yourself, Petros, for when the time comes and it comes sooner than you think.

You will finally see for yourself the truth behind the lies that have kept humanity in check over the centuries. You will discover that no one is safe in this world, not even those in the highest offices in the most powerful countries and civilizations in history. Perhaps Jesus should have said that the secret shall inherit the Earth not the meek, or perhaps not, maybe the seemingly meek." Graz laughed at his own cleverness.

Peter thought about what Graz had imparted and finally asked, "Why me?

"Why was I selected over all the other priests.in the world? Why not Dan even?"

"Dan selected you, he recommended you to us. We had decided that we needed someone from Australia. He had to be a Jesuit, you already know why . . . because of the oath, Dan would have been a good choice but we needed someone younger, someone that could eventually lead the organisation for a long period, a very tumultuous and dangerous period of our history. Someone au fait with technology that could harness the power of the emerging social media phenomenon. We gave the assignment to Dan and he selected you."

"You mean I was being groomed for this before I even thought I would be a priest?"

Carter and Teacher had been monitoring Peter for some time now. Carter read Enrico's mind and his cord pulsed quizzically when Enrico thought,

Before you were even born dear Petros, but said "Yes my dear Petros before you even became a priest."

"Why is this dangerous period coming?" Peter added.

"It is already here, it's the internet, it's social media, it's dangerous, it's harder to lie, much harder to get away with it, and infinitely more difficult to quash rumours and speculation. Anyone can say anything to potentially millions of people with anonymity and impunity and seemingly get away with it. Look at the Wikileaks case. It will take a very strong and special person to guide the Pontiff during this time, and the time to come whenever certain things you will learn about come to light. A time when all established religions will be thrown into turmoil. Only one will emerge supreme, only one will have the knowledge to adjust to the new environment, the new truth. It will be your job to ensure that that religion is Roman Catholicism as part of the New World Order. It will be a great day Peter when we no longer need to lie, to hide secrets, when you and I are out of a job. I am not sure if I will see it, but I think you may."

"I still don't get why Amelia had to be sacrificed? What possible harm could she have done? Monique was right, it was Andre wasn't it? He killed her, but who ordered it? Was it you or Enrico?"

"I told you before it wasn't me, Remember, I was scarcely at your level back then, much was hidden from me, as I found out later, as you will too. All I know from Andre is that the order came from 'The Fox'. I can only surmise it would have been ordered by the Guardian Angel of Secrets or the Black Pope."

"I thought they were one and the sam," Peter said with a hint of astonishment.

"Not always, we have had a number of Guardian Angels of Secrets who have not been Jesuit."

"Who or what is the Fox then?" Peter asked.

"Andre's father, he was head of Security in Europe at the time. You would need to ask him if you really need to know, all the others are already dead but what good will it do? Bringing up the past, besides he is now in a Church run nursing home in Frankfurt, he's showing signs of dementia. I fear he has little time left. Unless you intend to act on this information, and I would strongly advise against that Petros, if you want to continue living that is. These are very dangerous people, skilled in the art of murder, much different to killing a prostitute in a hotel room I'm afraid!"

Peter was shocked, he thought they had agreed never to bring that up again."

"I didn't do that, and I think you know that I didn't. Have you told anyone else what happened?"

"Just a few people know, the police haven't come calling so I think you are in the clear, so stop worrying will you," Graz said rubbing Peter's shoulders. "You are getting too tense Petros. This is not good. It is also not a great trait to display around certain people at this level. They may mistake it for weakness. Weakness is rooted out quickly. One thing we cannot afford is weakness. You will learn from history that no-one is immune, no matter how high they rise, as soon as they begin to display weakness SPECTRE will intervene."

Peter tried to disguise his disgust but still thought that Graz would have felt him squirming away from his touch. He forced himself to lay back and let Graz massage some tension from his shoulders.

"When will I find out about all this. About what has gone on in the past Graz?"

"You only need to look on the internet, that is why it's so dangerous. It's out of even our control. There are many mistakes there but some of the conspiracy theories people have come up with, especially about Princess Di and JFK and particularly those during the Second World War, about Hitler and Mussolini, are surprisingly close to the truth even if the reasoning is not quite right.

You have access to the best research facility in the world right here Petros, use it, see how close you can come to the truth by digging. It might be amusing to compare your findings to what you eventually will learn really happened. I was a long way off when I did much the same thing but then I didn't have Google did I? It may even help in your preparations for your first SPECTRE meeting. It is most important that you make a good first impression, that you demonstrate you are a thinker and a planner. That you do your homework, that you have no weaknesses, that is why you have to get this girl, this Amelia, out of your system once and for all. We cannot afford you to appear weak and indecisive. I cannot protect you if you do!"

Chapter 69 - Secrets Exposed.

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