Pursuit of the Zodiacs

by Walsh, Nathan

  One of The Watchers remarked, “Yes, but Bishop poses a whole new threat. His army is growing by the millions as we speak.”

  A Watcher responded, “Indeed, he’s already dispatched an army of fresh recruits into all corners of Hell. He has given the damned retribution against their tormentors. A gift no silver, diamond, nor gold could outweigh. What use are those things in the Afterlife anyhow?”

  A Watcher added, “Yes, security during Immortality will be the new currency. Even after death, Immortals need to be ruled. They need someone who can guarantee their welfare during their Immortal years.”

  Another Watcher spoke, “No, you’re not getting the point. Souls are the greatest currency.”

  A Watcher remarked, “God currency?”

  Another Watcher answered, “If you want to put it in those terms.”

  A Watcher said, “So, it’s settled. There will be war amongst the gods to acquire souls. Same game, different players.”

  A Watcher replied, “War between the gods? There is only one true God, and that is the Almighty Himself, and no other army can match his.”

  The Watcher added, “You could be right. Nonetheless, I’ve seen countless Worlds previously undiscovered. These civilizations have learned from the mistakes of their cosmic neighbors. They’ve come to terms in understanding that war will only mask a problem for so long before it completely becomes a necessity again.”

  A Watcher argued, “However, we all must admit war has removed a Tyrant that has been tormenting this Universe since its genesis, so we cannot completely disregard its accomplishments.”

  A Watcher agreed, “You have an argument there. But there will always be a pursuer of power, and that entity will believe war is the only option to gain it. And there will always be a pursuer of the Burning Throne, one who thinks himself worthy of the obligations.”

  The Watcher asked, “Will there ever be peace?”

  The Watcher replied, “There is a possibility, but far from our time, Watchers. It has been an honor working with you over the decades, but I must announce my retirement.”

  The other Watchers looked at each other in awe.

  A Watcher replied, “What do you mean? You swore an oath, and the only way out of our Society is through death.”

  The Watcher responded, “You are correct, but it is not my death that will come this day. A decade after I swore that oath, this profession was not what it was cut out to be, and cut out from it shall I be. My apologies, Brethren.”

  The Watcher walked out of the Covenant Hall in which they had been meeting for centuries. As the Watcher left, the Astrologer entered.

  His gift of invisibility had his presence cloaked the whole time.

  One of The Watchers stood and spoke, “Of course, Brethren, after all the countless betrayals we’ve witnessed during our watch, why did this revelation slip from our grasp?”

  The Astrologer interjected, “Yes, if you are truly Watchers, why am I present?”

  The Watcher sat back in his chair.

  The Astrologer continued, “If you haven’t noticed by now, I am the one solely responsible for the existence of the Zodiacs. God and I have shared unimaginable ideas. Some have proven successful; and others, let’s just say, not worth the retrospect. The reason for this so-called Pursuit of the Zodiacs counts as one of them. Giving this group too much power was a mistake. Before anything could be done, Lucifer had already seized his opportunity and rebelled behind Heaven’s Gates. Being cast out proved to be his ultimate plan all along. As for me, I left on my own accord with a few others in search of my engineered abominations. However, they had gone into hiding and were almost impossible to unearth, until now. With Bishop, they will be mine to control once more. Lucifer, that snake, manipulated them and aided their escape. He was not the Originator, nor Creator, but a deceiver. May he meet a thousand more deaths. I am indebted to Bishop. The Mover of Suns will rule the Universe and crush all those who stand in his path.

  One of The Watchers spoke, “Oh? What will he do against the Creator of these Suns? Did you two fools forget where you originated from?”

  After his outburst, the Watcher deprived himself of life. An electrical burst shot out of the Astrologer’s amazing suit, electrocuting the Watcher in his chair.

  The Astrologer waited for more outbursts. The others gazed upon the burnt flesh of their fellow Watcher as pieces of him slid from his bones. They kept their mouths shut.

  The Astrologer continued, “Every conqueror must foresee their end, either forfeiting the throne or being dethroned. Whichever way, they must make a decision. Soon, Bishop will be the only one sitting on a throne for all to see. Even you as Watchers must understand and accept this.”

  One of the other Watchers spoke, “Please, before you execute the rest of us, the Watcher who had recorded Bishop’s victory against Lucifer departed without a report. Please, you must tell me how this event transpired.”

  The Astrologer paused and looked outside a window into the Universe. Instead of taking advantage of an escape, they awaited his next words. “Even in the presence of death, you’d prefer to hear how the Dark Lord himself fell?”

  The Watcher answered, “Yes. And please do not let anything escape memory.”

  The Astrologer, like all storytellers, was pleased to find an audience willing to listen. “True Watchers, I’ve found a new respect for you. You will have your wish. His graveyard lies within the center of the Great Pyramids of the Sun and Moon where the Zodiac stars Align. What was assumed a sparring match ended up as arguably one of the most shocking events in the history of this Universe. When I arrived, Taurus neared death. He was not to be trusted at all, so I had ordered the Nephilim Giants to finish him off while Bishop and Lucifer clashed. He succeeded in killing two, but the rest showed no mercy. His horns ... his source of power ... were ripped from his skull. In unison, the Giants stomped his lifeless body, sending him into the Earth. It was epic.

  I noticed your comrade recording the whole event. It was then I realized the consequences that would arise if those records were ever to end up in the wrong hands, which justifies my visit here this day. Do not worry, if it makes you feel any better, Bishop gave me the okay. You Watchers are more of a liability than anything. We plan to assemble our own special group of Watchers. If I could find you this easily, then so can our enemies. And we cannot allow centuries of work to be held by men who are not of our Covenant. I’m sure you understand this. I cannot deny that your comrade’s will to live has played a major roll in me finding this place. It is nice, by the way. Now, back to the fall of the Dark Prince.

  I ordered the Nephilim not to intervene. Their service was needed elsewhere, so they retired to the craft as instructed. First, Bishop and Lucifer exchanged fire and all elements, but neither one budged. Even hand-to-hand combat ensued for a while, but they were evenly matched. Lucifer made the huge mistake of underestimating Bishop’s key gift, his powerful gravitational pull and his ability to move Suns. At that moment, all living things were at the mercy of Bishop, even I had to seek refuge. His power completely challenged the Earth’s gravity. The Zodiac stars Aligned in front of my eyes.

  To my surprise in the cave where I had taken refuge, there lay unconscious another Zodiac. Fate revealed her divine visage. Though unconscious, after deep observation, I realized the Zodiac who went by the name Virgo was in her most dangerous form. I took a sample of her blood and could literally see the numerous amounts of redeveloping poisons simmering in it. I smeared her blood on the tip of one of my special spears. I went back to the battlefield. While Lucifer struggled against Bishop’s gravitational pull, I seized my opportunity. Courtesy of the Zodiac’s poison, his impenetrable serpent-like skin couldn’t match my blade. It ripped through him like margarine. Lucifer became stagnant, and seeing him at Bishop’s mercy brought insurmountable pleasure to my eyes. What followed were the final moments of the Dark Lord himself.

  Bishop grounded the Prince of Darkness. Virgo’s poison seeped through his
veins so fast, Bishop no longer needed the use of his gravitational pull, nor did he have to move any Suns. Lucifer was finished. I placed my special chains around Lucifer’s wrists, sealing his inability to use any gifts. He gave me a look followed by a vile smirk that I will never forget. I handed Bishop his “Mover of Suns” Sword, and he forthwith beheaded Lucifer in front of all Earth.

  They arrived too late. Darkened with the new reality, I saw some of his most trusted Lieutenants and Demon Archangels slowly emerging from the shadows. Amongst them was a familiar face, Peter, a Demon Master Archangel. I assume he, if anyone, would be the one to pursue the Burning Throne. They were no match for the Nephilim we had at our command, so they slithered away like the serpents they were.”

  The Astrologer finished his story and asked, “Have I fulfilled your curiosity?”

  The Watchers calmly sat back in their chairs, looked at each other in confirmation, and with a contented tone replied, “Yes.”

  The Astrologer asked them, “Was this information worth taking into the Judgment Realm?”

  The Watchers replied, “Yes.”

  Alas, the Covenant Hall depreciated with more death. The Astrologer incinerated the remaining members of The Watchers. They burned to death in the same chairs they had occupied for centuries. They accepted their fate. Satisfied, the Astrologer burned everything to the ground, including Scrolls and records.

  From his departing craft three Moons away, the Watcher who had betrayed his fellow affiliates observed the smoldering fire and said to himself, “So, it is done.”

  “Not quite.” Surprised, the last Watcher heard the Astrologer’s voice from the communications system on board his craft.

  The last Watcher protested, “But, our agreement!”

  The Astrologer disregarded his protest. “Like the others, you proved to be nothing more than a liability. A simple coin can deter your loyalty at an instant. All who have gained wealth over the genocide of righteous men will soon meet a parallel death. Your kind doesn’t have the right to exist in the coming age of Immortality.”

  The lights on his craft flashed unexpectedly from the inside. He heard the beeping of some sort of explosive device. It was the last recollection of life he ever heard as his craft exploded. And just like that, it became one with the other billions of space debris floating in the core of the Universe. No more Watchers remained.

  In the safety and comfort of his own advanced craft, the Astrologer vented. “I’ve manufactured the blueprint of this Universe, and all that seems to appear before me is a vast, mass grave of emptiness. Everything set afloat within the cluster of this Universe, its Moons and all of its Suns and all of its Earths. The Universe would be better off if nothing existed at all. At one point, that liberty existed. Now, here we are amongst all of its misfortune. Who better to rule it than us?”

  ONCE AGAIN, WAR BROKE OUT WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE JUDGMENT REALM.

  All beings flurried within the Judgment Hall and all of its quarters. Those who had sold their souls to the Devil for the power they currently possess unleashed them upon the Guardian Archangels stationed there to protect and serve. The opportunity for an escape back into the Mortal realms of the Universe was promising again. The Demon Master Archangel Peter led the attack.

  “Release our Brothers and Sisters from their chains, and let them join us in retribution for our fallen Dark Lord!” Peter yelled out as they consumed the blood of Angels. Upon Lucifer’s death, Peter inherited great power that motivated him to pursue the Judgment Realm and the Burning Throne. He acquired millions of motivated Devils still loyal to the fallen Dark Prince.

  “THE JUDGMENT REALM IS UNDER ATTACK.”

  Remiel, along with his unit, surveyed the damage done in the Judgment Realm. The enemy’s numbers exceeded any chance of their involvement. They would be walking into a massacre. He had his men call for reinforcements.

  “So we must sit here and watch our Brethren die?” one of the soldiers asked. In unison, the other soldiers onboard backed his statement.

  Following the dissension, Remiel gave in and ordered the pilots to unleash heavy fire from their craft. As predicted, their attack revealed their location, and over a dozen enemy warships confronted them in space.

  “Shields up, full control,” Remiel ordered as their craft took heavy fire.

  Their shields could not take the ongoing punishment. They unleashed their laser cannons. One enemy craft exploded in front of them, while the other two spiraled off course and into asteroids. Remiel’s craft was forced to retreat into a nearby asteroid storm. Another enemy craft collided with an asteroid, splintering debris erratically. The pursuing crafts withdrew.

  Remiel said, “We did what we could. We need to focus on our own assignment.”

  “COME ON, GOLIATH, IT IS OVER.”

  A compliant Aries removed her fire from the tunnel. The Pursuers stripped themselves of their Special Suits. They moved forward, past the obedient replicas and approached Aries. Goliath, still suffering over the loss of Simeon, could not bear to see Aries, so he broke through an opening of the tunnel and met Raphael and his fleet outside.

  “Let him go” Natenal ordered.

  The smoke and fire cleared. Aries wept while holding Adam’s half-seared body. “I didn’t know, my Love,” she said while holding him close.

  “Adam!” Daniel called out, but he did not get a response.

  They surrounded Aries. Irisan, with her healing ability, moved in to help Adam.

  “He will live, and his burns will perish; but I will need some more time with him, Zodiac,” she advised.

  Gratefully, Aries responded, “I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience and the loss you have suffered. I didn’t know what your motives were. Please forgive me.”

  With no other alternative, peace built its foundation. They exonerated the Zodiac, putting an end to their Pursuit of the Zodiacs campaign. They made their way out of the tunnel with Aries. Further down the tunnel, Natenal investigated the stubborn fire that wouldn’t go out. He came across debris, melted fixtures, and the slightly pleasant view of the Pope’s ashes blowing overhead by the wind seeping through openings of the tunnel.

  Natenal exited and ordered the fleet waiting outside to put away their weapons. A ball of fire came soaring through the clouds. Its contrails marked the night’s sky. It was Michael, the Master Archangel, himself. The fire dispersed as he landed across the street. He had come with important news. News he had to deliver personally.

  “Lucifer is dead,” he announced shortly after landing.

  Some rejoiced while others remained skeptical and demanded answers. Michael continued, “There have been those who have betrayed the Kingdom. Amongst them are Grenad, Ariel, the Astrologer, and probably our biggest threat yet, Bishop, the Mover of Suns. Because of Lucifer’s death, there is a fight for the Burning Throne. Bishop’s army is increasing by millions, even as I speak. These are without a doubt the beginning of the End of Times. And I am here to tell you to ready yourselves, Brethren. Right now, the Judgment Realm is at war. Raphael, take your fleet and restore it. The people of Rome have their new Pope. Rome will be restored in time, so your services are no longer needed here.” And, with those last few words of warning, he returned to the clouds.

  Raphael said, “And so another chapter begins. Natenal, you and the remaining members of The Pursuers will be escorted back to the Kingdom. Your campaign is complete. You’ve done well. Get plenty of rest. I am certain you will be needed again.” In desperate need of recreation, they did not dispute their orders. They boarded their respective craft and departed.

  “LOOK! THE CRAFT, IT DEPARTS.”

  The Pursuing Mosqidou craft from Raphael’s fleet headed back toward the entrance to the secret underground tunnel.

  “They must be needed elsewhere,” Aquarius said.

  The Zodiacs did not mind their sudden change of interest at all. Relieved, they rested. Aquarius insisted they tread on towards the People Under the Sea.

  “What
is your rush? The threat is over,” Libra asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Pisces warned as she sensed danger.

  A figure made itself known in the shadows of the tunnel and rapidly moved in their direction. Followed by thick snake-like skin, the creature had three eyes on its forehead and one more resting on the back of its skull.

  “Damn, we cannot best its pace, whatever it is. It has a death wish thinking it can take on three Zodiacs,” Libra said to the others.

  Pisces added, “And death it shall receive.”

  They waited on the engineered specimen that this secret underground tunnel had manufactured. They had no idea of its weakness or power. And it came to them as the Devil came to Eve. They had no time to react to its weird alien form.

  They forced wind and water in the direction of the enemy. Lights sparked, and the surveillance cameras planted on the walls of the tunnel were destroyed. It slowed the engineered specimen down, but they failed to break its strange fortified skin. A row of razor-sharp Shark teeth rose from Pisces’ arm down to her elbow. As she thrust her arms, it caught her midway and threw her against the wall. She gasped for air. He extended his arms and clutched Libra’s leg as she attempted to strike from the wall. He threw Libra to the ground.

  Aquarius found an opening in its defense, and thrust her Water-Bearing Sword into its abdomen, finally breaking its flesh. In desperation, with a torrent of wind, Libra knocked it back down the tunnel with the sword still lodged inside its body.

  Realizing she had been badly hurt, they helped Pisces to her feet. She lost blood from internal injuries. Blood trickled from her nose and mouth. They could hear the echoes of Aquarius’s sword clanging against the ground.

  “It must have removed my sword from its body. We must hurry,” she affirmed.