Peter found himself floating above the operating table. He watched as the surgeon took off his gloves, tossed them in the bucket and turned off the annoying"'elevator" music. The orderlies wheeled his body out.

I must have died he thought to himself...but didn't they say something about intensive care...they don't take dead bodies to intensive care...so why am I still in here?

"Is something troubling you Peter Margate?" A voice in his head made him start!

"Who said that? Who's there? What is going on? Am I dead?"

"So many questions. You are here for now and sort of dead."

n"What do you mean sort of...that's a bit like being a little bit pregnant isn't it? Anyway who are you? Are you God?" Peter finally asked bewildered.

"Not exactly God," the voice intoned with a hint of exasperation. You may call me Teacher for want of a better term."

"Well, where is he? If I'm really dead then I expect to see God,! That's how it's supposed to work isn't it?"

"You are the priest, aren't you? You tell me," the voice said in a mocking tone.

"If I am dead where are the people I killed before they got to me? I don't see them here. Where is Enrico?" asked Peter."

He is at the movies."

"Very funny . . . sure he is. You have movies here. Of course you do. Stop the bull and tell me the truth."

"You will soon learn I do not lie. You have much to learn Peter Margate. Shall we begin with a movie?"

"What movie?"

"Your movie Peter Margate!"

"Why can't I see you?" Peter asked.

"You will, or rather I think you will. It depends."

"On what?"

"On how long you are with us this time."

"Where would I be going . . . to Hell?" Peter's voice was laced with uncertainty and a modicum of terror."

You do well to be uncertain, for your future is essentially that."

"I need to know what's going to happen, tell me . . . please . . . what is this place? How can this be? It is nothing like I expected."

"It seldom is. Most are nonplussed at first, but you have more reason to be than most I fear."

"What happened to me?"

"You will see . . . in time!" Teacher laughed.

"Crazy bastard. Alright, I'll play your little game, take me . . . to the movies I mean."

"As you wish Peter Margate. It's off to the Joi De Vie then!"

Peter found himself in an amphitheatre. The biggest cinema he had ever seen. Hundreds of people were seated in rows behind him. He looked around but didn't recognise anyone. He looked to his left. There were two women.girls to be more precise. Something about them was familiar but he didn't recognise them either. He turned back to see another two women seated directly behind him, again no recognition. The seat on his right was vacant.

The voice said, "Pay close attention to your movie Peter Margate. It will all become clear to you."

I'm already in Hell aren't I? Wouldn't be surprised.

The movie started. Peter would be enthralled from the outset.

The movie seemed to start with the present. Peter saw his death as the Vatican Swiss guard used the base of his spear to knock the gun from Peter's hand. The same gun he had just used to murder Enrico, the Black Pope, the head of the Jesuits, the most powerful man in Rome. Then he had killed Andre, Enrico's personal body guard, by shooting him threlle times as he charged toward him. It was then that the outside Swiss guard had burst in on the meeting, disarmed him and plunged his spear into Peter's chest, once, twice, three times. Blood spurted on the screen people behind him gasped. He turned around to see who it was but his eyes became fixated on the empty chair next to him. He felt a blast of cool air as a tall man dressed in white appeared in the seat to his right.

The man in white spoke in the same voice as the one in his head, "Are you remembering now Petros?"

Peter felt a chill down his spine at the use of the name Enrico had given him. He, then ooked down to see a crystal like thing protruding from his abdomen. It began to glow a hazel brown colour just like the colour of his eyes. It looked sharp as, but when he touched it his hand passed right through and he was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of dread and foreboding. He didn't like this at all. He recognised this old friend . . . guilt.

'

Who are you? And why am I here watching this? Where is Amelia?

"Again, so many questions but not the right ones. Do you remember why you killed then?" Teacher asked.

"Because . . . eh . . . because of what they did to me. What they did to us. What they turned me into," Peter offered.

"Where is Amelia? I want to see Amelia!" Peter demanded.

"Why did you kill?" Teacher insisted.

"Because Enrico killed Amelia, the mother of my baby. But why? Why kill an innocent girl?

"The truth seeks you out dear Petros. Keep going you are nearly there," Teacher urged him on.

"What did they have to gain?" asked Peter.

"What did they have to lose is more to the point!" Teacher countered.

"Think Petros, what position were you being groomed for?"

Peter thought about how best to answer . . . the truth would have to suffice. "The Guardian of Secrets . . . I think."

"And what secrets are so valuable for the Holy See in Rome to kill innocents to protect?"

Peter thought about the meeting before the killing started. "The star child," I think.

Teacher replied "the star child you know! Petros."

"But Amelia knew nothing of that!" Peter argued.

"And . . .You knew nothing of the baby!" Teacher countered.

"You mean they killed her just to keep me in Rome?

"

Yes . . . to keep you for the purpose they believe you are destined to fulfil."

"And just what, pray tell, is that?" Peter said mockingly.

"To become Pope, Petros. The last Pope. The Pope to oversee the Great Transition."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Watch your movie now Petros! See what will be, or not," Teacher pointed to the screen.

The moon appeared on the screen and from beyond the moon seven large space vessels appeared. They made their way towards earth.

"What is this?" Peter asked astonished.

"This is the future dear boy. Your future . . . should you choose it," Teacher said quizzically.

"Are they alien ships?" Peter gasped.

"Yes."

"So the one that they called the star child, that young girl really was an alien?"

"A hybrid," Teacher corrected.

"The alien vessels . . . are they going to attack Earth?"I'm

"No, they are friendly, they have been visiting for centuries but you knew this."

"Did I?" Peter asked incredulously, "This is bullshit. What has all this got to do with me?"

"You are the Guardian of Secrets . . no? The Black Pope, Enrico, was the Protector of those secrets. His Guardian Angel. Your father, Graziano was charged with that duty. One of the most important ones to be protected through the centuries was the existence of alien beings."

"No big deal . . . people have been speculating about their existence for as long as I can remember, I even had discussions with Graz about it!" Peter argued.

"Yes, just so Petros, but no one had categorical proof. If the Roman Catholic Church were to maintain it's standing as the one true Church, existence of alien races throughout the universe would effectively lay waste to all that now wouldn't it? Teacher postulated.

"Again, assuming everything you say is true, what has all this got to do with me?"

"Think Petros, they knew their secrets would come out eventually even this one. They had to devise a plan to maintain their position on Earth despite the existence of aliens and all that that entails."T

Teacher continued, "They needed a strong leader, especially during the transition.

They chose you as the last Pope. They needed a new Messiah that would be acceptable to the people of Earth and the alien races. They needed a hybrid. They needed the product of the joining of an earthling and an alien. They needed a star child. A child with extraordinary powers, powers to heal, powers to bridge the divide between all races. Powers to control humanity as they had done since the Roman Empire."

Peter was dumbfounded. He stammered out, "Okay, but why me?"

"Because you fulfil the prophesy. The last Pope will be Roman, that is Italian, and will be called Petros. He will father the New Messiah. That star child is your daughter, Petros."

"What? That can't be. I'm no alien!"

"No, but Amelia was. She was going to tell you so they had to kill her."

"That can't possibly be true"

"Ask her yourself. She's right there behind you, but you better hurry they are about to try and wake you in intensive care. You need to decide. Are you staying or going, Petros?"

FINIS

Dead Priest Bounce ©

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