Pursuit of the Zodiacs

by Walsh, Nathan

  “Everyone, remain seated!” Aru, the Representative of the People of the Sun, shouted. The members of the Dark Graduates looked at Aru and at each other. The most muted being in the room had become the loudest.

  “Aru? What is this?” Noah asked as hundreds of his soldiers entered the room with specialized weaponry energized from the Sun. Noah’s fleet also entered the huge Council Hall.

  Aru strongly disagreed with the first judgment regarding the Pursuit of the Zodiacs. He strengthened the reasoning for his disrespect by informing everyone of his secret. “You bastard, Leo was my damn Brother! You will die in his name! To the other Representatives … leave now. No harm will come to you. However, when this night is over, there will be a new Leader! I will call upon you soon.”

  Acknowledging the seriousness that Aru displayed, the Representatives of the Dark Graduates exited the Council Hall, not sure of its future.

  “No, Genesis, not you. You are not going anywhere!” Aru yelled.

  Genesis replied, “What? To Hell with you Aru!”

  Chaos erupted in the hall as Aru’s men exchanged laser fire with Genesis and Noah’s forces. The other Representatives were escorted out, and everyone else ran for their lives.

  One of Noah’s GIs entered the war-torn Council Hall to relay an important message. He reported that Aru had warships stationed near headquarters awaiting orders.

  Not only was Aru out for Noah’s blood, he wanted his throne and an elevation in rank as the new Leader of the Dark Graduates.

  “OH, THE STENCH!”

  They arrived at their destination. As they exited the train, the stench of rotting reptilian corpses enveloped them. The putrid smell was almost unbearable.

  “Cameron and Julius did a real number on them,” Taurus concluded.

  “Yes, the natives must have been too scared to investigate, so they just left them here,” Virgo added.

  “Wait here until I get the others.” Troy restarted the engine and departed.

  Virgo inquired, “How long must we wait?”

  Taurus sat down on the curb, finding a spot as far away from the reptilian bodies as possible. “It could be a while, Cousin. Might as well take advantage and rest.”

  Virgo lay down behind him. Moments later, she entered a deep sleep.

  VIRGO’S DREAM

  “Come on ladies, these gentlemen won’t service themselves. Earn your pay!” The barker pointed to Virgo. “Hey you, virgin girl. I don’t believe it! Come here, whore!”

  An intoxicated well-known politician grabbed her, but the thick number of security guards restrained him. The elite, the one percent who ruled the World, ran this private strip club. Only active members of secret societies could attend, and they lusted for younger women, predominantly virgins. The ones who lost their virginity to the most powerful of men were either dismissed, sold … or worse: sacrificed in front of a live audience that consisted of politicians, people in the entertainment industry, Presidents, former Presidents, members of law enforcement, and many other influential but corrupt individuals. Even though this place had no moral standing, the women’s purity is what made this place so successful.

  The audience grew weary and encouraged the next act. “Come on, bring on the next stripper!” one of the audience members eagerly shouted.

  Out came the most beautiful woman they had ever set eyes on: a young Virgo, in her late teens. Any one of them would have given anything to sleep with her. The room grew silent as she appeared on stage. All the yells and wolf whistles stopped. Those receiving lap dances, or who had otherwise been getting their money’s worth, paused from their activities to watch her perform.

  They were under her complete authority. She used her telekinetic abilities and ordered all of the customers in the room, and the private owners of the establishment who secretly watched from their tinted reinforced windows, to eradicate themselves. They turned their own guns on themselves; and when no bullets remained, the rest made their way to the roof of the forty-story building and jumped to their deaths. The place presented its own sign of purity, as it was empty. “Less filth in the World,” she said, gazing upon the dead bodies and empty tables and seats.

  “Okay, open your eyes and follow me,” she said to her awaiting colleagues. Everything went according to plan. They rubbed their eyes after concealing them for so long and walked over the fresh dead bodies of men they despised. Virgo escorted them out of the building. Just when they felt liberated from working in that terrible dwelling, the very halls darkened and became hot. She gazed upon an Elder Aries and Lucifer. Due to the experience age had given him, this Aries had power paramount to his Zodiac cousin.

  “Have her submit, and bring her to me,” Lucifer ordered as he vanished in the dark.

  End of Virgo’s Dream

  “Virgo, you must wake,” Taurus shook her while keeping a covert tone. “We have company. You must wake up.”

  Gradually, she regained consciousness; and her eyes followed where Taurus pointed. He continued pointing over towards one of the Pyramids. Her blurry eyes came into focus on none other than Bishop.

  “What is he doing here?” Taurus questioned himself.

  “Did we not form an alliance with him?” Virgo asked.

  Taurus answered, “Yes, that is the current news. But the way things are, he could have had a change of heart. We will not introduce ourselves until we know where he stands. Let us wait and see what happens here.”

  After another mile, Bishop landed on his mark.

  “Is it done?” He asked while watching his trusted Vampeer Luther exit the tomb in which he uncovered the Nephilim Giants.

  Luther answered, “Yes, my Lord. They are ready for your instructions.”

  Bishop said, “Excellent!” He shouted with a welcoming tone. “Come out my children, and free yourselves from captivity!”

  It worked. They came out in huge numbers, following Bishop’s voice. Virgo and Taurus, watching at a distance, did not have to investigate any further to see whom he had summoned.

  “They have Lucifer’s Giants! Devious bastard,” Taurus grunted.

  Virgo added, “They’ve been awakened ahead of schedule. Nothing is going as planned. Lucifer needs to be informed.”

  Luther said, “I bring you more news. These Archangels volunteered to fight alongside you, my Lord.”

  The Archangels came forward.

  Bishop replied, “How nice. Unfortunately, their service will not be necessary, nor could we ever trust them. Coerced loyalty is worse than no loyalty at all.” He ordered the Giants to eliminate the Archangels.

  Luther elevated his voice to override the cries of Archangels in the background. “Another group we encountered inside escaped. Should we pursue? I’m sure they have not gone too far.”

  Bishop said, “Let them go. Soon, all of them, along with their god and their kingdom, will be crushed.”

  “There you have it. Nothing else needs to be clarified. I see Bishop has a conflict of interest,” Taurus affirmed.

  Despite being Zodiacs, it was foolish to face a god and the Nephilim Giants alone. They kept their heads down while slowly descending a hill. However, during their exit they crossed paths with Lucas and Prometheus, the fleeing Archangels from inside the tomb.

  “I’m sure you’re aware of what is going on, and a skirmish between us could alert the Mover of Suns. I’m guessing you are the escapees they spoke so kindly of?” Taurus informed.

  “Yes, you are correct, Zodiac,” Prometheus answered.

  “Well? What now?” Virgo asked calmly.

  They set their differences aside and worked together. One of the Nephilim caught a powerful scent. “Yes, I can smell them, too. Power, so much power,” another Giant validated.

  Even the Mover of Suns joined them in their search as he hovered towards the Pyramids. “Zodiacs,” he said while pointing out their location, putting an end to everyone’s curiosity.

  “Bring them to me,” Bishop ordered.

  “Shit,” Taurus
said after overhearing the Giant’s new assignment.

  Lucas heard the orders as well and motioned everyone to follow him. “Let’s move.”

  They trekked through rough terrain and into an unknown cave. As their lights pierced the darkness, they found more writings that are arcane and art on the high walls of the cave.

  “I wonder what has yet to be unearthed here,” Prometheus pondered aloud.

  “Or, it could already be among us. I’m sure they did not stop at Giants,” Virgo concluded.

  Lucas shielded his eyes and yelled, “Damn you and your Devil Magic, Zodiac!”

  Virgo replied, “What?”

  Lucas spoke, “We know of your telepathic power. Look away or meet our guns.”

  Taurus said, “Fools, lower your voices. Why are you so quick to die?”

  Prometheus added, “Her beauty is a curse from the Devil himself. I fear what lies underneath that flesh.”

  Virgo responded, “You watch your tongue.”

  Prometheus answered, “No, it’s yours I should watch. Is it that of a serpent by night?”

  Taurus said, “This is neither the time nor place to raise conflict. We have a common enemy to fight. We must tread on!”

  A large hand appeared at the entrance of the cave, reached out, and grabbed one of Prometheus and Lucas’s men. Virgo advanced with her telekinetic abilities. Enchanted by her death-defying beauty, the Giant submitted to her authority. He unhanded the Archangel and turned on his dispatcher by grabbing a hovering Bishop in mid-air. The Mover of Suns was astonished at the Zodiac’s power. “Power indeed,” he said while breaking the neck of the Giant, releasing its grip on him. “No!” he yelled, stopping the other pursuing Giants in their tracks. “I will handle this myself. Go to your craft and wait for me there.”

  They left as Bishop slowly made his way into the cave.

  “You bastard. You’re too incompetent to run this campaign!” Zacharia shouted. While their men still fought for their lives against the hungry beasts that cursed this Dimension, they wrestled near the damaged communications system, unaware that their campaign had already ended.

  Zacharia held both of Grenad’s arms, using all of his strength to keep the touch of death from gaining contact. But the ex-Pursuer’s experience trumped Zacharia’s defense. Despite his betrayal, Grenad had learned from the best during countless sparring and training rounds with top Master Archangels. He head-butted Zachariah, and delivered a combination of punches to his exposed flesh. Moments after, everything he touched on Zachariah’s body exploded.

  The soldiers ordered to stay outside came crashing in upon hearing all the commotion. “What’s happened here?” one asked.

  “He’s a traitor to our covenant, he made an attempt on my life!” Grenad answered.

  “What the Hell have you done?” Another soldier shouted while heading towards the broken communications device. They saw pieces of Zachariah everywhere. Shocked, they foolishly dropped their guard, and more treachery and death followed. Grenad placed his hands upon their necks, marking them for death.

  “You bastard!” One soldier shouted after horrifically watching his comrade’s head explode. He charged towards Grenad, but his head detonated as well.

  “And that’s that,” Grenad confirmed as he wiped splattered blood from his face. He attained the craft’s Super weapon, which sacrificed a few more of his men. The beasts fled before the excessive firepower. He ordered those who remained to return to the craft with the injured.

  “Looks like the Dark Graduates developed a change of heart.” The Watchers stood behind the shadows continuing their active duties as Bookkeepers. They analyzed and recorded everything they’d witnessed. They wrote in their Scrolls and authenticated their record accounts with their seals.

  “There was a time when gods held their disputes in the shadows, as we are. Mortals have lost the city. The end seems to have come ahead of schedule,” one remarked as they all gazed upon the blood-covered Moon.

  “Indeed, how will they be able to grasp all of this reality? I’m afraid it’s too much to comprehend. Countless lives have been lost to hide this supernatural content, and it’s been brought to the fore.”

  “As things progress, we’ll see if the Mortals know how to handle the existence of unnatural things. Most still cower in their homes with paralyzing glares of curiosity.”

  “I think they are taking it quite well. It will take some getting used to; but nonetheless, they will have something in common with their neighboring Planets. Therefore, it will open many opportunities that can bring forth either good fortune or peril. This will be their New World; and in time, nothing will ever amuse them. And that might become troubling to those observing from the outside.”

  “So you say … so you say. Maybe a Representative of Earth will be welcomed amongst the Dark Graduates?”

  “Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. If they still feud over the pigmentation of the flesh, what chance do interstellar forces from other Worlds have? Once they rid themselves of this obliviousness, maybe someday they’ll share a seat there. But first, let’s see how well they treat their uninvited alien guests.”

  They had been to all corners of the Earth … corners undiscovered by man. Yet, the Pursuit took a toll on everything that existed, and everything yet to exist. Despite its new form, the Earth still had a void; but only the Mortals were qualified to complete its very existence, either through more blood or peace.

  “I see the only end to this Pursuit and coming wars is the death or exile of all the Zodiacs.”

  “Come again?”

  “Yes, the first Pursuit nearly caused a universal war, a near extinction of all living things. We are not too far away from the recurrence of those same tragic events.”

  “You are right. However, it is not up to us to come to terms with what must be done. Our job is only to observe and record.”

  “Maybe rules must be broken again in order to save the Universe? Rules were broken in the past.”

  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Our assumption alone to what you’re implying could very well get us killed. Please choose your words carefully.”

  “Eventually our end will come. If we continue to stand here and watch the Universe crumble, our end will come sooner than we think. If everything ends, what good are we?”

  “You have a point, and my approval has already broken a few oaths as a Watcher. But carrying out the deed is another matter.”

  “So what?”

  “Therein lies the question.”

  Aquarius’s great flood scattered The Pursuers along the streets of Rome.

  The water drained into the sewage systems along with all classes of blood. Natenal pinned down and beheaded two Demons. The Zodiacs had fled.

  Irisan heard moaning, bones crushed and flesh ripped. She investigated. She found a pile of Demons partaking of someone’s flesh. She shot laser fire at them. As they cleared, she uncovered the Bookkeeper. Only his head and the parts they didn’t like remained. Angrily she ran down the small group of fleeing Devils and emptied out everything her laser weapon had.

  “We’ve failed him,” she said to herself. She picked up a sheet from the rubble and covered what was left of his body. “Pursuers!” She saw thousands more being led by Oseem, the Demon Master Archangel.

  She headed back to the other street to warn the others; but laser fire streamed past her, one finding its mark through her arm. She rolled on the ground and got back up.

  Timius heard her warning as she staggered at the corner holding her injured arm. He ran over to pick her up while yelling to the others at the same time. “We must move!”

  They could hear the ominous pounding footfalls of the Devils. They ran down the street into an abandoned church.

  “If this must be the end, let it be in a church of God,” Natenal said, clearly disappointed in the outcome of the whole campaign.

  They went through their inventory and equipped themselves with more advanced laser weapon
s. The Demons arrived, and they riddled the front of the church with laser fire. They took cover while the lasers punctured the walls. They barricaded the front door with anything within reach: benches, chairs, altars and statues. Some Demons came crashing through the glass roof of the tabernacle, but were punished for being impatient. The Pursuers weren’t going to hold up for too long within the diminishing structure. Simeon rebooted the communications device. He expected nothing, but gazed upon a missed signal.

  “Pursuers, Pursuers, can you read me?” It was Raphael. He brought hundreds of Mosqidou Warships.

  Simeon responded, “You must come now! We are overrun with Demons outside of a church. We are inside, barely holding them off. Look for a church surrounded by over a thousand Demons. You can’t miss it!”

  To their surprise, they received an immediate response. “Affirmative. Hold them off as long as you can until we get there,” Raphael ended the message.

  Irisan tended to her wounds using her healing ability. Both her entry and exit wound closed moments after her touch. Simeon stood right by her side returning heavy fire out of a window. As he reloaded, she gave him covering fire.

  Downstairs, Natenal and Timius moved back and forth from window to window, trying to cover as much ground as possible. Unfortunately, too many Demons challenged the front door of the church.

  The Demons continued to pound at the barricaded door. Natenal and Timius heard the wood cracking with each blow. The Demons breached the door.

  Simeon saw the door caving inwards. He tapped Irisan on the shoulder, and they both ran towards the church’s basement while firing at the pursuing Demons.

  The Pursuers trod down a lengthy hall downstairs and passed a metal door. After making it safely inside, they secured the metal door, holding the Demons at bay for the time being. However, with their increasing numbers, the door grew weak.

  “God give us strength. Everyone stand behind me and prepare yourselves,” Natenal said as he stood up after a brief moment of prayer. He braced himself to unveil his face of God, which to him would be his last act of service to his campaign.