Pursuit of the Zodiacs

by Walsh, Nathan

  “THIS IS LUCILLE, EX-MEMBER OF THE DARK GRADUATES, AND I AM ON MY WAY BACK TO ROME.”

  To the ex-Dark Graduate, these days seemed unpromising, so Lucille kept an onboard recorded log. “I’m not sure what occurred. After witnessing Lucifer’s fleet heading towards the war between the Children of Sirius and the Dark Graduates, I’m certain their intentions weren’t pure. Concerned for my own well-being, I failed to discover their purpose there, which side they sought to aid, or if it was another annihilation campaign for both parties. Soon the answers to my queries will surface, and I doubt any of the answers will be pleasing. These testing days will bring out the coward in most, and deliverance in some.”

  As she arrived, she could sense death. It hung thick in the air like a persistent odor. A craft hovered in the distance, and she felt certain they detected her. She moved carefully, hiding in a spot, and waiting for space to clear before moving to another.

  She reached the hideout and had no clue to where Jacob had gone. Kidnapped, fled or killed … she didn’t know, and so she departed. “Great,” she thought to herself as she hid behind the side of the house. “I have a visitor.” She could see another craft scanning hers. Even though she saw symbols, she did not recognize any of them.

  She set up shop in the hideout and unraveled her sniper rifle. Looking through the scope, she could see the Pope’s Reptilian guards through one of the ship’s portals. She went to work firing special force field-piercing ammunition. Expertly, she picked off the pilots one-by-one until they were all dead. She saw another Reptilian removing one of the dead from the pilot’s seat to gain control of the craft and save it from plummeting to the ground. The Reptilian didn’t gain control in time, and the spacecraft crashed into a condo a few yards from hers.

  Lucille gathered her belongings and made her move. She snuck to her ship while keeping an eye on the downed craft. She saw the crashed ship’s door open. Because of the damage to the ship, the Reptilian who had survived the crash could only open the door slowly by means of a manual crank. This gave Lucille enough time to position herself beside the opening door. And as the injured Reptilian stepped out on the ramp, she easily overpowered the creature and demanded that it tell her all that it knew about the attacks.

  The Reptilian told her everything that had unfolded in Rome after the arrival of the Zodiacs. It went on to tell her about The Pursuers, the Four Talismen, Cameron and Julius, the Alliance between Bishop and Lucifer, Aries, and even Jacob’s murder. She received more information than she could handle and let the Reptilian go after confiscating its weapons.

  “You had better remember the day I spared your life, Reptilian.” In silent response, the creature placed its hands together and shook them as if in solemn prayer.

  LOST AT SEA, YET ALIVE, LIBRA HELD ON TO AQUARIUS IN ORDER TO STAY AFLOAT.

  “Your gift is truly amazing, Aquarius, it’s as if you are on land.” Libra said while watching an unconscious Aquarius. Libra combed her fingers through her long hair as she lay.

  She awoke, rejuvenated by the water. “Ahh, there you are,” said Libra, as she watched her cousin clear her head. “Please get us out of here.”

  Aquarius summoned the People Under the Sea. These humanoids lived in the abyss of the seas in Pyramids where no one dared travel, for they were not welcome. Ten heavily armed People Under the Sea rose out of the water. The one in charge introduced himself as Goro and embraced Aquarius, for he had not seen her for a long time. He noticed her injuries, so he had his men assist her to their underwater craft. They gave Libra a special suit to wear so she could breathe underwater and withstand the deadly pressures of the abyss. This suit was temporary, but Aquarius explained that, if she gained their trust, they would convert her to be one with them. To Libra, they appeared as humans, but clearly didn’t fit the definition. They had pitch black eyes, gills and fins similar to a fish, with slightly regular hands, and weirdly shaped feet. However, certain features positioned on their body made them appear almost humanoid.

  Traveling through the sea was like nothing she’d ever experienced … a whole new World. She could see why the People Under the Sea wanted this beautiful habitat kept beyond the reach of human hands. As she traveled beyond, many wonders appeared. Fish the size of a house swam by and disappeared into corral. More schools of extraterrestrial fish zigzagged and circled about as if welcoming the new Zodiac phenomenon to their dwelling. Judging by the hundreds of sunken warships on the ocean floor of the abyss, the humans had failed to comply with their warnings. They had made the warships and submarines into adornments and constant reminders that humanoids were untrustworthy. In their opinion, everything humans touched turned to ruin, as very soon would be the fate of their World.

  As the People Under the Sea guided Aquarius and Libra to a hospital within one of their massive Pyramids, curious native men, woman and children looked on to see whom they escorted through the city. Libra observed huge statues of past warriors and gods, even Elder Zodiacs who had the element of water as one of their gifts. She saw schools, libraries, courthouses and even prisons.

  They entered the hospital. As long as they remained inside, the water and the pressure of the abyss would not be a threat. Goro escorted them to their own separate and private suites. “Here is where you two will stay for the night.” He left Aquarius first at her old familiar suite and escorted Libra further down the hall to her own sanctuary. “You will no longer need this until your departure.” Goro helped Libra remove the special suit and hung it in the closet for her.

  Libra, though inside, continued her tour gazing through the portals of her new abode where she saw unworldly beautifully colored sea creatures swimming by. “This is amazing.”

  Goro gave her some final instructions. “There’s food and beverages down the hall. Make yourself at home, Zodiac. You are safe here and have nothing to fear. Relax and rest.”

  She did just that, acknowledging him as he left.

  Goro went back to Aquarius’s room, and they became intimate. “So it seems you’ve fully recovered?” He joked as the night ended with erotic desire.

  DAMN, WHAT HAVE WE MISSED HERE?

  Daniel and Goliath returned to New York. They arrived at their old safehouse only to find it in ruins. Within the massive sinkhole rested pieces of real estate under the dismantled roof. To their eyes, the chances of anyone surviving this were nil. Memories came back to them after they unearthed the sinkhole that Capricorn had created.

  “Where could they have gone?” Goliath asked.

  “I have no idea. Nevertheless, we must move forward,” Daniel replied.

  “Wait,” Goliath pointed to a stand of trees. They saw glowing symbols and went in for a closer look. They saw a mosquito with Earth in its abdomen followed by the word “Rome.” The symbols were in secret writing in the Immortal Tongue that only The Pursuers could decode. They found a rock with coordinates carved into it, leading them to the Gateway to Rome.

  Daniel said, “Our Brothers are alive and have left this message for us.”

  Goliath added, “Yes, it seems they were confident in our return.”

  Daniel said, “Let’s meet and show them we have confidence in them and this campaign.”

  They followed the coordinates. However, no Gatekeepers or Guardians stood at the gate. They sensed something had gone wrong. “Judging by the marks on the ground, it seems they were dragged into the Dimension,” Daniel clarified.

  “But, by whom … or what?” Goliath responded.

  “Not sure, but we might as well investigate. This is our fastest route to Rome,” answered Daniel.

  They walked through the Dimension. It snowed; and two to four inches had already accumulated. They saw some red in the snow and, upon further investigation, found two trails of blood. The killer or killers had waited until they were completely inside the Dimension before eliminating both Guardians.

  Daniel and Goliath continued walking. The snow gave way to a more temperate climate while tall bamboo trees blew
in the wind. They covered themselves as the temperature decreased. They trekked on and found more trails of blood in the snow, which led them to their suspect. He was a hybrid man, most likely a skilled Samurai. Daniel and Goliath analyzed his mask, black wings, special sword and pants. The Guardians must have given him a good fight before their deaths. His armor had been destroyed. Daniel and Goliath walked past bits and pieces of armor as they approached him. They saw three non-life-threatening fresh lacerations across his chest that stopped at his stomach.

  “Tell me, Devil, what was your reason for killing two Guardians of the gates?” Daniel shouted through the glistening snow.

  The cold didn’t affect the Samurai. He cleaned his bloodstained sword, swiftly cutting through one of the bamboo trees. “That is the least of your worries right now, Pursuers,” he answered.

  Daniel wanted more information. “I see. If you won’t answer that question, Demon, then do answer this: who sent you here to die?”

  The Samurai answered, “I don’t like repeating myself, Pursuer,” while pressing a button on his mask. As the Samurai grinned, the technology within the Mosqidou Hybrid Mask allowed it to grin with him. Moments later as he continued to smile, the Mask altered its form into the faces of the two gatekeepers he massacred.

  Daniel said to Goliath, “Wait, is that one of our Hybrid Masks?”

  Goliath replied after analyzing it. “Yes. Yes, it is. He must have scavenged through the wreckage in the sinkhole. This Devil used the blood of these gatekeepers to alter its form.”

  Daniel spoke, “You’re going to regret ever donning that mask, Devil.”

  The Samurai said, “I must admit, your masks are quite impressive. After I kill the both of you, I’ll be confiscating yours as well.”

  Goliath wanted to cause no further delay to their campaign. “Let’s get on with it.”

  Goliath took off his coat to give him greater mobility during the battle.

  Daniel created a funnel cloud and sent it towards the Samurai. After the funnel cleared, they saw his true form. His skin was as tough as ice, not even the forcing winds moved him. In the Samurai’s domain, the funnel cloud fueled him.

  “You must do better than that, Pursuer,” the Samurai taunted.

  The Samurai issued a funnel cloud of his own, impelling The Pursuers onto separate routes to escape. The force slammed both of them against the trees and ground. The Samurai took out his Katana and charged at Goliath. He chopped down at him as he got up. Goliath blocked his attack with both arms crossed, making it to his feet. To his surprise, streams of blood trickled from both his arms. “How is this possible?” Goliath asked. The Samurai gave off a weird chuckle from behind his mask.

  Goliath yelled at the Samurai, “You bastard!”

  Enraged, Goliath’s size increased while approaching the sword-swinging Samurai. He flung his mighty axe towards him, hoping to destroy this latest fork in the road by finding its mark. But his anger affected his aim. The Samurai successfully dodged the axe. The axe didn’t stop until having flown near twenty yards full, cleaving a trail through a thicket of bamboo trees. After realizing Goliath’s true strength, the Samurai fled.

  Goliath pursued the fleeing Samurai through the Dimension’s bamboo fields, caught him and delivered a series of blows to his ice-like stature. As pieces of ice hit the ground, the Samurai, in an act of desperation, triggered one of his gifts. Goliath’s arms froze while he held his enemy with both hands. Soon after, the ice consumed him.

  The Samurai dropped from his clutches and bounced off the ground. Daniel emerged from the sky. The feathers on his wings appeared black as coal. The Samurai’s sword clanked hard against Daniel’s sword as he blocked his attack. Daniel capitalized on his opponent’s slow recovery time and cut off the Samurai’s head. It rolled into the bamboo forest with the stolen Mosqidou Hybrid Mask still intact.

  Goliath burst out of his frozen imprisonment to see Daniel in front of him. “Had better days, Brother?” Daniel joked.

  To their surprise, the headless Samurai’s body stood up, fumbled around for his head and fled.

  Goliath asked, “Who the Devil was that?”

  Daniel commented, “I’m afraid we’ll regret letting that thing run away. It would be better for all of us if abominations like that didn’t exist.”

  They took one last look at the fleeing Samurai and continued on their path to Rome.

  WITH A SMALL GROUP, CRUSIX ESCAPED SUPPRESSIVE FIRE FROM MICHAEL AND RAPHAEL’S FLEET.

  They could still hear the sounds of enemy sirens from afar in another Dimension. Crusix used his communications device to call for support. He received coordinates to a safe zone. Making it there was no small task.

  “We must keep moving.” Tired and battered, they trod on.

  A small search team breached their Dimension. Crusix ordered his remaining men to keep silent and follow his lead. They snuck past a trail of broken-down buildings destroyed during a previous war.

  They heard the voice of one of their enemies shouting, “Over there!”

  The groups exchanged laser fire. Crusix and his men camped behind the run-down buildings. Already full of their share of punishment, both Crusix’s men and the buildings they hid behind crumbled after receiving a series of laser offenses from Michael’s search team. Hundreds more joined the skirmish. Some of his men had to be sacrificed in order to strengthen the chances of his survival.

  “Go! We’ll hold them,” one of his loyal soldiers shouted.

  Crusix left and kept traveling for about a mile until he’d made it to the safe zone where a ghost train awaited. The conductor, a Guardian Demon Archangel, opened the door and motioned him inside.

  “Troy, it certainly is good to see you,” Crusix said.

  “Likewise, Brother,” said Troy. “Are there anymore coming?”

  Crusix answered, “No, we must leave. The enemy is approaching.”

  Troy asked, “What about Bishop’s men? Not one?”

  Crusix answered, “No, they’ve been eliminated.”

  Troy shut the door, and the train departed into the Underworld.

  BISHOP AND LUCIFER’S ALLIANCE MATURED, AND THEY DEPARTED WITH PLANS AND STRATEGIES LEAVING THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE UNDEFINED.

  They parted with star maps displaying coordinates of bases to strike and various other targets. They exchanged advanced weapons and technology. “This proves nothing, Lucifer,” said the Son of God himself.

  The Son of God appeared in his humanoid form with eleven of his Disciples, all Master Archangels. His eyes filled with fire and his skin darker than burning brass. Cloaked in golden armor, he stood on a mountaintop beyond the reach of their laser cannons.

  Lucifer said, “I was wondering when you would join all the fun. Now run along with your friends, and go get your Father.”

  The Son of God replied, “You’re confident in everything that will soon fail. You and your alliance with Bishop, your Zodiacs, Talismen, and all those who go against us, will be sent into the Judgment Realm, where the same combatants who sent you there will Judge you. Moreover, I will see to it that these events occur in my Father’s sight.”

  Lucifer replied, “We shall see.”

  They departed, but Lucifer dispatched hundreds of his soldiers to meet their visitors on the mountaintop. Fifty of Lucifer’s followers were tormented with fire and lightning. Pieces of the mountaintop scatter along with pieces of burnt flesh and bones. After the storm, a crater remained and the ashes of their enemies merged with smoke. After witnessing true power, the remaining Demons fled.

  “It was worth a shot,” The Dark Lord said to himself as he exited a portal.

  “SORRY, BUT THERE IS NO ONE WHO GOES BY THAT NAME RESIDING ON THIS MOUNTAIN.”

  Capricorn arrived at the Secret Mountain of the Seven Moons. Disappointed once again by troubling news, Goken, the bearer of this news and Guardian of the mountain, addressed Capricorn. “The Children of Time could be anywhere, another Dimension, Planet, amongst the stars, or even
dead. If I knew their whereabouts, I wouldn’t be alive long enough to tell you. Whoever told you this news has deceived you. Do yourself a favor and do not waste your time or your life trying to climb this mountain. As a Zodiac, you do qualify for entry, but at what cost?”

  Capricorn answered, “This can’t be? Was I hallucinating? Was it just another dream? Laurentina was real.”

  Goken responded, “Laurentina? The name escapes me.”

  Goken paused. Sensing danger, he warned Capricorn of his premonition.

  They scurried while dodging a barrage of laser fire.

  “Snipers,” Goken warned aloud. He hid behind a huge boulder.

  Capricorn shouted to Goken, “Where?”

  “Just over that hill!” Just as he pointed towards the hill, a laser beam pierced his arm. He grimaced in pain. His eyes glowed, enraged.

  Capricorn summoned his Dead Rising minions. To his surprise, Goken also had the power of summoning. Emerging from the Mountain of the Seven Moons’ cave, a Nephilim Giant Ghoul appeared. It stood near twenty feet tall.

  “You had that ace in the hole this whole time?” Capricorn inquired.

  Goken answered, “Yes, and I’m grateful, or else we would be in bigger trouble. It appears that you’ve been set up!”

  The Giant moved toward the assailants, but not without receiving special firepower. A determined Cameron and Julius issued out the Pope’s orders with custom ammunition. The Giant submitted and found its own source of cover.

  “Damn!” Goken yelled.

  “Don’t worry. It’s not over yet,” Capricorn replied.

  They heard the shifting of the Earth as Capricorn’s minions ascended from underground. They surrounded and swarmed the snipers. One-by-one, then in twos and threes, Capricorn’s minions fell victim to their suppressive fire. Bodies scattered around the field. The swarm proved too great for the two snipers, who were dragged from their hiding place.

  By special orders, his Dead Rising brought them alive. Not only did Capricorn want to look into the eyes of his oppressors, he wanted information.