Earth. 3rd Planet from the star, Sol, United Arcturan Empire,

The Former Washington, D.C., The White House,

Current Day, June 2nd, 2034

"Send him in, slave..." Elle commanded, briefly looking up from her alumiglass datapad to observe the human entering the room.

A soldier wearing a white dress uniform very similar in appearance to something seen on Cenerea, marched into the Oval Office Throne Room, through the antique-filled chamber, and knelt before the Arcturan.

Elle wore a shimmering gown that glistened in the overhead lighting. Pinpoints of light reflected from the material like a mirrored disco ball, responding to her every movement. Behind her, outside sunlight attempted to force its way through the light-reactant, pearlescent tint covering the three large windows at the rear of the former Presidential office. It added a soft hazy glow that only further accentuated the Arcturan's already stunning beauty. To the guard, Mother Arcturis was gorgeous, appearing practically angelic, but he understood very well, she was far from anything 'heavenly'. He lowered his head in reverent fear. "Mother, the 2nd Carolina Science Regiment of the Church of the Holy Man has reported that they have isolated the modulation signal!"

Demios stared down his tan, muscular arm, twiddling his fingers in the air behind the man's head and snickered as he reclined back on the antique presidential sofa once owned by Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton or one of those people. "Who fucking cares..." he thought to himself. "Worthless humans, all of them."

"Demios! Sit up!"

The young man shot upright, his silken, pearlescent robes falling around him exposing his chiseled physique. His sudden action startled the man kneeling on the ground only a couple meters away. The soldier flinched at the booming sound of Demios' voice emanating from behind him.

"Seriously, Mother!?!!" the teenage god exclaimed.

"This is important and I need to you to pay attention!" Elle shouted angrily, glaring at her son from across the room.

"Very well, Mother!"

"Continue soldier..." the Arcturan said, returning her attention to the guard. She rested her chin on her right hand and leaned forward.

"Yes, Mother Arcturis. The scientists say they have verified that the signal matches the frequency you have specified and it does seem to be intelligent. Also, and this is according to Dr. Joseph's report, it, um, it makes changes at a quantum level, I believe that's what he said, and it responds to...responds to everything."

"Can you explain that to me? What does the doctor mean by, it responds to everything?" Elle requested.

"Um, I am not sure I can..."

"Really?" Demios asked, as he stood and strode angrily across the room. He loomed over the much shorter, kneeling man quaking in his shadow. Elle's son was by definition the epitome of a Greek god. Standing at nearly seven feet tall and probably the most beautiful human on the planet, the young man was replete with a nasty demeanor and the reputation that went with it. "Do you know who you are speaking to, slave? Why would you dare come in here so ill-informed and unprepared?" Demios produced a nasty grin. "So, how about you give it your best try then, slave?" he said, bending over to make direct eye contact with the human, who responded by quickly darting his vision away.

"Alright, here goes..." the man stammered, his voice and body trembling.

"No need, soldier, you may go," Elle said and rolled her fingers, dismissing the very grateful human. The man scrambled to his feet and backed quickly through the door and Mother Arcturis lowered her eyes back to her tablet.

Demios menacingly followed the retreating man a few steps and then turned. "I believe you are too soft on these humans sometimes, Mother," he said, sweeping his hand around behind him. "You cannot rule them by coddling them, much less lead them."

Elle leaned forward from her seat, laying the digital device in her lap. "And what would you know of ruling anything, my son? Cajoling with all of your human harlots and racing about this world in their transports. How is that 'leadership'?"

"Transports, ha. Why do you insist on using those Cenerean terms like that, even to this day, Mother?" Demios inquired smartly.

"You are dodging my question." The Arcturan glared at him. "Why do you insist on questioning me, my son? You are far from ready to take this seat from me."

"You will never relinquish that chair and we both know it, Mother. Not until you have destroyed everthing..." Demios paused as he noticed the grey-haired Julius enter the room. A smile stretched across his face as he watched the archaeologist stride in, his attire an almost complete ripoff of Indiana Jones.

"Are you ready, Demios, my birthday boy?" the German asked, cheerfully. "Our adventure awaits!" he said, throwing his arms into the air. Julius strode up to Elle and pecked her softly on her rosy cheek. "How are you today, Lucenda? I have to say, you look absolutely amazing!"

"Thank you, slave." The Arcturan nodded and patted the smiling man on his face. "Julius, I am so happy you have arrived. I was nearing my limit with Demios and feared I might have to dispatch him to Geneticus."

"Really, now? What have you done, Demios?" Julius inquired and placed his hands on his hips. He looked up at the large teenager and raised an eyebrow.

The tall, pretty man grinned down at the much shorter archaeologist. "Father...I, um, I was being disrespectful." He angled his eyes up at his mother and then back at the German.

"And?"

Demios turned toward Elle. "...and I'm sorry, Mother."

Julius clapped his hands together. "Great! Now that this is settled, let's be off!" Julius said. He turned and headed back toward the door and then stopped to look over his shoulder. "Oh, Lucenda?"

"Yes, Julius?" the Arcturan responded, her eyes still fixed on her deceiving little brat.

"Please, tell Gary I said hello and I will try to catch up with him another day."

Elle nodded.

...

Earth. 3rd Planet from the star, Sol, The United States,

Maryland, Southeastern Maryland Hospital,

Eighteen Earth Years Ago

The lights of the hospital room flickered as Elle screamed. Sweat poured from every pore in her virtual body, soaking her gown, and she ached with nearly unfathomable pain. The woman rested for a moment only to feel the wave building once more. The machine next to her bed began to beep faster and faster. It annoyed her and it suddenly fell silent.

"Push!" the grey-haired, country doctor shouted, glancing above his patient at the sparks erupting from the fluorescent light's ballasts. "Come on, gimme one more! Can someone get me a light over here?"

The Arcturan leaned forward. "I am pushing you filthy sim!"

The old man's face contorted in confusion. "Well, I can honestly say that's the first time I've been called that name," he said with a laugh.

"I am glad you find this humorous, native..." Elle screeched.

"Thank you," the doctor replied as a tech brought in and activated a floor lamp next to him. "...and again!"

"C'mon push, Lucenda!" Gary commanded through gritted teeth, no longer feeling his fingers. The digits were either completely crushed or asleep, and at this point, he could not tell which. The CIA agent could only see their purple tips slightly protruding from the ends of Elle's steely grip. He looked over at Julius on the other side of the Arcturan. The German was fairing no better. Sweat beaded across the man's forehead like the surface of a cold beer bottle in the sun. Julius' blue eyes darted over at Gary, the orbs filled with agony and fear.

"Verdammt!" the archaeologist shouted as the vitals monitor, only a couple of meters away from him, exploded, sending glass shards, plastic, and sparks flying. Several nearby nurses quickly left the room, clutching various places on their bodies, evidently injured by the machine's shrapnel.

"You go nowhere!" Elle shouted, grabbing the German's hand even tighter. The sounds of his fingers popping loose from their sockets one-by-one, each heralded a shade of color leaving his face. His legs buckled and he fell to his knees as the Arcturan screamed once more. The shrill voice subsided with the pressure on his hand, everything giving way to the increasing, even more frightening sound of a newborn God.

"Lucenda? Mother?" Gary asked, attempting to shake the blood back into his stinging fingers. He shook the woman's shoulder with his other hand. Nothing. "Hey, doc?"

The doctor handed the crying baby over to a nurse and removed his stethoscope from his neck. He briskly stepped around and placed the disc to Elle' s chest.

Julius stood, the color returning to his cheeks. "Is she...?"

"Dead? No, my dear Julius, I am very much alive," Elle said weakly.

The doctor listened for a moment, nodded at Gary and Julius, and then turned to focus his attention on the baby.

"Let me see," Elle said to Julius, still clutching his aching hand.

He extended the bruised fist toward the Arcturan, wincing.

Elle gently slid her hand over the German's. The doctor and nurses ceased all activity as the room filled with light. They watched Julius' clearly broken hand mend within seconds under the Arcturan's gentle touch.

"Go on, get back to work, people," Gary commanded, waving a hand in the air at the medical staff.

Julius held his hand in front of his face and wriggled his fingers. "Thank you, Mother..." he said, softly.

The doctor walked over and examined Julius' hand. "Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle..."

Elle glanced at the doctor curiously. "That's absurd," she said.

"It's just a saying," the old doctor retorted, adjusting his glasses to get a better view of the German's five digits. He shook his head and released the man's hand.

The Arcturan's forehead wrinkled. "You do understand that it's quite the opposite, physician."

"What is?"

"The notion that you are the uncle of a monkey, when your species' evolutionary timeline indicates it is quite the opposite," Elle replied.

Julius laughed aloud at the joke, seemingly the only one in the room that got it...even Elle, he supposed. He looked over to find her glaring at him. "Oh, I thought you were joking."

"I was stating the truth," she replied, seriously.

"I see..." Julius shook it off and stepped over to the incubator to find he was staring eye-to-eye with a very alert, very beautiful, green-eyed, baby boy and his heart melted instantly. "Hallo there, little vun," he said, softly. He placed a finger in the infant's open hand and the child gripped it. "You are very strong, I see. Like your mother, yah?"

"Are you tha' daddy?" the doctor asked.

"Yes, he is the child's father," Elle said, watching Julius interact with her baby from across the room.

Julius stood erect, a mask of fear on his face. "Pardon?"

Gary wiped the sweat from his forehead and whistled. "Didn't see that one coming," he said under his breath. He suddenly experienced a large wave of sympathy for Julius.

"Alrighty, then. What are we callin' the little fella', erm, mom and dad?"

"You mean Mother?" Elle said, correcting the obstetrician.

"If that's what you're callin' yourself, ma'am. But, in no time flat, you'll be callin' that little bundle of joy, boss and it won't matter a hill of beans what you want to be called," the old doctor said with a smile. "I don't know who you are lady, and I don't know where you're from, but I can honestly tell you, I have never seen a more perfect specimen of humanity in my entire life. That child over there has to be a miracle of evolution or scientific engineering."

Gary nodded. "Doc, you have absolutely no idea."

...

Earth. 3rd Planet from the star, Sol, Italy, Rome,

The Vatican City

Eighteen Earth Years Ago

The Catholic priest opened the small viewing window cut in the heavy door and smiled. He turned the door's antique handle and pulled. "Emilio, my son, welcome...welcome to the Museo dei Papi di Roma. (Museum of the Popes of Rome)."

"Grazie, Father Agostino. Thank you for having me," Emilio replied, stepping in through the ancient archway and into the priest's office. "Fantastico, this old room must really hold some stories."

"I imagine they do and from our conversation earlier, I'm equally sure you are about to give its walls one more to treasure. Please, Emilio, have a seat," the man said, indicating for his visitor to be seated. "Now, how may I help you? Your voice on the phone today was nearly frantic and I have been concerned. I hate to say, but my old ears only managed to catch bits and pieces. Please tell me, what is this trouble you indicated was happening, child?"

"Well, Father, I am sure that you have seen the video of the woman in the temple, no?"

"Sì, I have. There have been several meetings here today at the Vatican to discuss it."

"What if I were to tell you that I believe this woman may be il Diavolo and the world is in serious danger?"

"Then, Emilio, I would say you might have travelled a little too slowly through the vineyards on your trip to see me," Father Agostino said with a grin.

Emilio forced a smile. "Yes, I see where it might sound a bit...um, crazy. Nevertheless, Father, I am here because of a German archaeologist..."

"Julius Mannheim?"

"You know him?"

"Of him," the priest stated as the smile left his weathered face. "I believe our business is done here, Emilio. Please, go with God," the old man said as he stood.

"Wait, Father, I, erm...how many years have you known me?"

Father Agostino paused. "Since you were a small boy."

"And have you ever known me to be a liar or cheat, Father?"

"Never, my son. You were always on time to mass and choir. You were a good boy. But, I..."

"Please, then, give me a moment of your time, Father Agostino. Julius is my friend and I believe he and the world might be in danger," Emilio said, stepping around the antique desk to grab the elderly priest's hand. "I just need a few minutes..."

The priest raised an eyebrow and nodded. "He's your friend, you say? Interessante. Very well, Emilio, I will give you an audience, but be warned, your friend, this Julius Mannheim, has been ordered to never step even one solitary centimeter into the Vatican's boundaries. Uttering his name outside of these walls could get you excommunicated."

"Why?"

"Another day, my son. Now, what is it you have to say, I'm listening."

"Grazie, Father, grazie," the Italian museum director returned to his seat, sat down, and opened his brown leather jacket, retrieving an old tattered book from its interior. He held it out in front of him and removed a rubber band from around its ragged surface. "Sorry Father, one moment," he said, thumbing through the worn pages. "Here it is." Emilio turned the book around and plopped it on the desk in front of the priest. He tapped a finger on an old black and white photo paper-clipped to the opened page. "Do you know what that is? Why would Julius be so enamored with it?"

A look of surprise and fear swept over the old man's face. "W-w-where did you get that?"

"I didn't. This is Julius' book. He left it with me for safe-keeping. Sadly, it is mostly written in German and I am far too lazy to translate it. Regardless, this picture has been the basis for all of the hunts he and Misty have been on the last couple of years, right before they found this temple."

"That is the Shechita of Cain."

"Pardon?"

"Your friend's photo, it is an image of the knife Cain used to kill Abel in the Garden of Eden."

"The what? " Emilio spun the book around to look at the photo with new eyes. "So, this photo is authentic?"

Father Agostino paused. "Sì."

"Where is this knife?"

The priest leaned forward, his wooden chair creaking, and looked directly into Emilio's eyes, a piercing expression of sincerity that Emilio would never forget. "It is here, in the Vatican," the old man whispered.

"Why would the church hide this fantastic piece of Biblical evidence from the world?"

"Because this weapon borne of evil is said to be the only weapon known that could kill Il Diavolo. The Holy Church did not want the word to get out that they had it. For when Il Diavolo returns, it shall be used to end the Beast's reign on Earth."

Emilio's face grew a look of concern. "Father," he whispered. "...this is not spoken of in this way in the scriptures."

"This is on purpose, my child," the old man said. "I am actually placing my life in danger by even uttering the words I have spoken so far."

"So, why tell me?" Emilio asked, nervously.

"Because, we think you might be right."

Emilio blinked. "We?"

"You may not believe me, but there is another book to the Holy Bible and it contains a truth that will change anyone who reads it...forever," the priest said, earnestly.

"Another book?"

"Si, it is the first book and it is called Geneticus, Book Zero of the Bible."

"That is blasphemy Father Agostino. There are no other books...it says not to add to the word of God, does it not? Proverbs 30:6? Do not add to his words or He will rebuke you..."

The priest shook his head. "No, Emilio, this is vastly different," the man whispered. "There is another book and it was actually written in the presence of the Creator, but the Holy Church had to leave it out for the world's protection."

"I don't understand, father. How is hiding this book helping anyone?"

"One day, people will read it, but not until the evil is defeated. Then all will be revealed."

"Can I see it?" Emilio asked. "Since you have already told me about it, it's no longer a secret, no?"

The old priest sighed and then nodded. "I agree. I will come by your hotel and pick you up tonight at 8pm. Tell no one about this if you want to live to see tomorrow! The Church's reach is great, my son."

Emilio nodded and then stood. He suddenly realized he was trembling. "Tonight, father...at 8?"

"Sì, at 8."