Pursuit of the Zodiacs

by Walsh, Nathan

  “I still can’t get a signal. These Mortals and their toys. I’ll try again in a few minutes.” Grenad tossed the phone on the bed. In the meantime, he, along with Goliath, went over Natenal’s recent dream. The Bookkeeper had left with Ithiel to the Moon by way of a spacecraft to report the proceedings to an awaiting Archangel. They were to wait there until called upon.

  “So, Natenal, your dream: what does it mean?” Grenad asked.

  Natenal responded, “I cannot recall this ever happening in my past life.”

  Grenad added, “If this event has yet to occur, are we to stop it, or turn our heads?”

  Goliath answered, “The only Zodiac we know with the gift of stopping time is Sagittarius.”

  “Yes, and he seems to be fond of abandoned buildings. But, for some reason, I can’t fathom the thought that it could be some sort of metaphor for something. Or, do you think Izakiah Gretcha might be Sagittarius?” Grenad asked.

  Goliath replied, “Hmm, that makes sense. But the painting? Should we search for it?”

  Natenal answered, “No, it’s the sign within the painting, something regarding the White House. If it is fate that we cross paths with the Zodiac again, then so be it. We will send him back to his Ruling Planet.”

  Unaware of the news of Leo’s death, they assumed that they’d found their man located at an underground gambling ring, with a convenience store serving as a front to fool the cops.

  “Put your weapon down,” Daniel said. Alerted, Shiloh and Daniel moved in closer, certain that the suspect was indeed Leo.

  “I would mind my own business if I were you,” the robber warned.

  “Are you short on coin, Zodiac? We know who you are, Leo. Come with us,” Daniel ordered.

  The suspect replied, “Ha, you have the wrong man. I will not warn you again. Leave now.” He transformed into a half-dragon, half-humanoid beast. The clerk fainted and hit the floor hard. It was the man who called himself the Year of the Dragon.

  “Who the Hell are the other two? Lisa, are you seeing this?” Detective Lee yelled to his partner.

  From outside the convenience store, detective Lee and Lisa looked on. They had received a report of a robbery in progress. But the two Pursuers had beaten them to the scene.

  Lisa answered, “Our suspect just turned into some shit! We should call for back up.”

  Detective Lee said, “Yeah, make the call. It looks like it’s going to get ugly in there.”

  Back in the convenience store, the Year of the Dragon made himself known.

  Shiloh questioned, “What is this beast?”

  The Man-Dragon advanced towards them, shooting fire from his mouth. They split up, parrying away from the fiery blaze. Daniel, with his gift over the winds, constructed a heavy burst of wind that knocked the dragon off course and into a few shelves of the store. Shiloh went to work banging her blade across the monster’s impenetrable skin. The monster retaliated by tearing both her arms off.

  Daniel, shocked at what he had just seen, yelled, “Shiloh!”

  Tossed aside like a slab of cold meat, helpless but still conscious, Shiloh grimaced in excruciating pain. She lay there shouting. The monster opened his massive jaws in an attempt to burn her alive. But, before he could cover her in flames, Daniel intervened with a fierce thrust of wind that inflicted internal damage upon the dragon. The wind blew the dragon completely through the foundation of the store, creating a massive hole in its structure.

  Using all that power recklessly had brought Daniel to the brink of utter exhaustion. Knocking down items, stumbling into numerous shelves, he desperately treaded toward the downed beast. Shiloh was on the floor coughing up blood. He stopped by her side.

  “Keep moving! This Demon must be destroyed!” Shiloh cried.

  With sword in hand, Daniel approached the battered Man-Dragon.

  “Freeze!”

  Too focused on gaining vengeance, he never saw them coming. Over a dozen cops with guns drawn took cover behind their parked vehicles. To the first detectives on the scene, the backup couldn’t have arrived at a better time. They witnessed the whole encounter. All supernatural forms were identified. They couldn’t believe their eyes. Daniel’s wings alone told a million stories.

  A very startled and quivering detective Lee yelled out, “We, we, we have you sur-, sur-rounded. Put, put your weapon down.”

  Dying, Shiloh put her final gift to work. Her eyes became all white as she shook helplessly on the floor. Every living creature in the vicinity, from the crows and rats to the stray cats, and dogs, attacked the armed officers. The Man-Dragon saw Daniel’s sword coming down upon him and dispensed more fire from his mouth. Daniel sheltered himself with his own wings. The force knocked him into the side of a nearby dumpster, denting its heavy steel frame. The Man-Dragon held his stomach in pain and ran off. For stalling his escape, he punished the stubborn officers who fired upon him. Their bullets only fueled the Dragon Zodiac, and he incinerated them. The Year of the Dragon took his escape airborne, transforming into a full Dragon. The sight instilled fear in all those who witnessed as it flapped its giant wings. Most of the onlookers mistook it for a well-designed large balloon. The Moon gave aid to its essence, and the debate for its authenticity found mainstream news.

  “Wait!” Detective Lee said, while managing to escape the animal infestation.

  Daniel responded, “Mortal, you need to know when you have met defeat.”

  He knocked the detective across the street with a force of wind, leaving him unconscious.

  Daniel shouted, “Enough of this. This gathering is over!” He summoned a cyclone that cleared the streets before touching the surface. The surviving police and detectives scurried back into their vehicles and drove off.

  Daniel found Shiloh and said, “Shiloh! Shiloh, are you alright?”

  He felt a pulse, but no conscious response. He picked her up, stepped outside and took flight, unconcerned about who may have witnessed him.

  The sudden movement awakened her. “Farewell, Brother. We shall meet again after my journey through the Reincarnation Realm,” she uttered. Daniel asked, “Reincarnation Realm?”

  But, before he could get an answer, she lapsed into unconsciousness.

  One of the Geminis stood on the balcony of his hotel window, watching the cyclone in the distance, and saw an Archangel carrying another. “Do you see what I see over there?”

  The other Geminus approached the balcony and spotted the mysterious beings, ensuring that his Brother was not hallucinating.

  An agitated Twin barked, “It’s The Pursuers!”

  The other said, “Great! Because of your carelessness, our enemies are one step ahead of us.”

  The first Twin replied, “You’re still burdened over the Scroll? We must …“

  Someone knocked on the door. One Twin motioned for silence and teleported to the door.

  The knocking stopped and a voice outside announced, “Room service.”

  The cleaning lady used her master keycard to open the door. They kindly announced the room’s occupancy and sent her off. Moments later there was another knock at the door.

  A Twin yelled, “Look, Lady, we said the room is occupied.” But, frustrated, he opened the door.

  “No! Wait!” His Brother warned.

  It was Skore, Lucifer’s personal messenger, there for a report.

  They had no words. They let him in and offered him a seat and drinks.

  Skore refused their hospitality. “I’m afraid this unannounced visit must proceed in haste. What is the word on Leo?”

  Skore never saw it coming. One of the Geminis thrust his sword through Skore’s stomach.

  “You bastards! What are you doing?” Skore gripped the sword lodged in his body as the other Geminus teleported behind him. He remained on the couch, unable to move. The Gemini freed him of his pain, decapitating Lucifer’s Messenger.

  “What have we done?”

  “We’ve just made an alliance with The Pursuers,” was the response.


  “Great!” sighed the Twin. “We are traitors, enemies of both realms. I highly doubt that Mosqidou will accept our warm gestures on the strength that we acted so only out of fear of Lucifer.”

  On a distant Planet called ZY Red Hypergiant, colonized by the People of the Sun, one of Aru’s spies spoke to Aru. “My Lord, we come with bad news. Your Brother Leo has been murdered.”

  The day he feared had come. He could only fight back the tears for so long. He broke down. The spy gave him a moment. After collecting himself, he asked, “What happened?”

  The spy answered, “By the time we reached him to forewarn of the threat, someone had already challenged him, someone very powerful. Word on the streets of Japan was that men bearing weird masks with lengthy noses challenged him.”

  “Those damn Pursuers. There will be repercussions! I will make sure all of our Suns are coated with the blood of enemies!” Aru vowed, pounding his fist.

  Chapter 19

  BAD BLOOD

  “We are an authentic species, but it seems that someone disapproves of our existence.”

  — LIBRA

  Adam spoke, “What’s troubling you, Brother?”

  After seeing the mark of the Dark Covenant on his new comrade, Abdeen had a change of heart regarding his loyalty. He confronted him about it. “I see you bear the mark of the Dark Covenant, Brother. You have a story to tell … and, please, one that will not deceive.”

  Adam replied, “So, you’ve been spying on me, friend?”

  Abdeen countered, “Adam, be aware, this is no time for jokes.”

  Adam comprehended the serious look on Abdeen’s face. “Yes, if you must know. I was a soldier for Lucifer for many years. Some might say I’ve done things even holy water can’t absolve. After having seen the potential and good in all living things during my travels, I swore I would make things right as much as I could to earn a seat in Nirvana. Have I earned it yet? I’m not quite sure.”

  Abdeen said, “I sense there is more you fail to share, Brother. What’s the real reason for your redemption?”

  Adam watched the three Moons in view just over a mountain. “Yes, you are right. Many years ago during protocol, I met a woman on the very Planet I was sent to destroy … a Zodiac named Aries. At the time, she went by the name Ursula. Lucifer gave me strict orders to escort her off the Planet before it met with disaster, and so I did. Then, the unthinkable happened. We fell in love. It marked the beginning of the end of my so-called profession as a traveler, a profession I knew so well. Somehow, Lucifer was informed and had my children executed. I guess my bloodline wasn’t pure enough for his plan. Ursula left me a farewell letter and vanished with Paul, my only surviving Son. She declared it too dangerous to tell me her terminus in case the letter fell into the wrong hands. I didn’t blame her. Because of the sins of their Father, I had cursed my family. It was a miracle my Son Paul survived the contract that was put out on him. He’s to be the heir to her power should anything happen to her. Ever since, I’ve traveled Galaxies in search of them, not even sure if I’d ever find them. It’s been my obsession.”

  Inspired by Adam’s story Abdeen said, “It’s settled. Our paths were destined to cross, Brother. God led me right to you. A small group and I are also in Pursuit of all of the Zodiacs. Please, join us. We can help each other. You will be an excellent addition to our mission.”

  Adam thought about the offer. “A Pursuit of The Zodiacs, huh? That’s an impossible mission. To my knowledge, Lucifer and other powers-that-be had killed them off. Even the ones I’d considered friends. It has taken me years to find a clue where Ursula and my Son might be hiding. My apologies, but I don’t see your mission standing a chance.”

  Abdeen said, “You may be right, but failure is not an option here. Prior to escaping the Judgment Realm, Lucifer successfully found and turned three Zodiacs: Taurus, Sagittarius, and the Gemini. He has a mysterious Scroll he plans to use to deceive and unite this new generation of Zodiacs, the descendants of the original Fallen Archangels. If we do not stop him, he will eventually find Aries. She will be turned with the others, and they will be almost impossible to defeat. Everything you’ve been fighting and searching for will be lost.”

  Adam thought to himself for a while and took out a picture of what Abdeen presumed to be Aries, Paul and his deceased children. He took a deep breath and accepted Abdeen’s offer. “Your words strike importance, Brother. And I will assist you in your Pursuit. After the Sun sets, I will take you to your World.”

  TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

  As Ruler of the Seventh House, your quest for fairness and balance in the World will bring forth complications. Stay composed, even in the time of indecisiveness…

  They arrived at their mark, a safe house just a mile away from Las Vegas, Nevada. Libra’s Uncle Charles welcomed them all in his home despite the dangers of having them as guests.

  Libra hadn’t seen her Uncle in a while and gave him a big hug. “Hi, Uncle. It’s been how long? Let me introduce you to my friends Aquarius and Capricorn.”

  Charles motioned to some seats. “Please, make yourselves at home,” he said to Libra. “Eight long years, my love. It is wonderful to see you. You and your guests are welcome to stay as long as you like.”

  Capricorn grunted. “Can I go outside, I don’t want to be inside just yet.”

  Libra clarified, “We’ve traveled very far, so please excuse him. He seems to be angry with everyone and everything at the moment.”

  Charles ignored Capricorn’s comment. “It’s alright. We were all his age once. Remember, he is a Capricorn nevertheless,” he joked.

  Libra said, “Yes, how can we forget?”

  Charles motioned to the stairs. “Your rooms have already been made up. I hope you find them comfortable. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

  Capricorn and Aquarius retired for the night. Libra stayed behind and spoke to her Uncle in private. “So, what news can you share?”

  Charles, a retired operative at Area 51, had his fair share of encounters with extraterrestrials: some a part of various federations, and some employed by the Dark Graduates. He worked specifically with an alien Race known as the Tall Whites.

  Charles answered, “I sent for Sagittarius. He will be here in a day or two. There’s word that a special team has been formed to destroy all of the remaining Zodiacs.”

  Libra took this in. “Is that so? Remaining Zodiacs? Who gave the order?”

  “It’s unclear, but they’ve already managed to eliminate Leo. They should not be taken lightly.”

  Libra replied, “This is disheartening, and explains the intensity of our latest Horoscope.”

  Charles asked, “Horoscope?”

  Libra answered, “Yes, I think it occurs any time one of us is in immediate danger or has fallen. Until this day, I could not reconcile the two. We were stricken with a deep pain in our Fortune Gem. It glows once or twice before we receive our Horoscope. It occurred twice on our journey here.”

  Charles added, “I’ve heard rumors of it during my time at the base, but thought it was a mere myth more than anything.”

  Libra said, “Yes, we are an authentic species, but it seems that someone disapproves of our existence.”

  Charles said, “Come, get some sleep. I will get to the bottom of this so-called ‘Pursuit.’

  “What failures!” In another Dimension, Jedediah crossed out yet another one of his assassins from the list. He planned to rid the Zodiacs himself by forming his own group of Pursuers.

  “What is your obsession with these Zodiacs?” David, his tactician, inquired, as he prepared to summon another hit man for the frustrated Archangel.

  Jedediah spoke, as much to himself as to David. “Recruiting Zodiacs when they should be destroyed is not an option. It’s a move ready to self-destruct, and our Kingdom will be among its casualties. I will not sit around and wait for their whole operation to crumble to its foundation.”

  David replied, “You should leave this in Go
d’s hands, Brother. Remember who established this whole operation. It’s everyone’s job to obey and await results.”

  Jedediah was perturbed by David’s comment. “You’re a bit too late with objections, Brother. The only result I see in their mission is failure. Now, do as I ask and summon Bishop.”

  Staggered, David continued, “The Mover of Suns?”

  Jedediah said, “Has your sense of hearing escaped you? Yes, summon Bishop, the god who can move Suns.”

  David said, ”No, this can’t happen. He’s not scheduled for summoning until the Day of Judgment, the final war. Have you gone completely insane?”

  Jedediah said, “I’m taking it upon myself to make sure that great Day of Judgment occurs.”

  David argued, ”Your obsession with the Zodiacs has made you mad, Brother. I must resign from our little secret operation and report this to the High Counsel, even if it results in my own atonement. Your madness is costing the lives of too many good men.”

  Jedediah said, “You leave me no choice. Guards, seize him, and execute him.”

  “What? You have gone completely insane, you have no right to execute me Jedediah!” David cried as the defenders hauled him off. A determined Jedediah carried out his own orders by going completely against the Kingdom. He prepped to summon Bishop, also known as the Mover of Suns, arguably God’s highest soldier.

  Jedediah thought to himself, “With the Mover of Suns’ aide, I will accomplish all things.”

  “In need of any assistance?” Music to their ears, Levi, Simeon, Zodeen and their special guest, Cancer, entered the safe house and joined the melee. Ozias changed into his original form to avoid confusion, his golden armor shining as brightly as ever, partially stained with Demon blood.

  “More are coming from the training room!” Pharisees shouted as he parried an incoming axe offense.

  Two individuals known as sworn enemies teleported through the walls of the library. The Gemini wasted little time working in unison, chopping down any Devils within reach.