Pursuit of the Zodiacs (66 page)

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE, BUILDING-TO-BUILDING, STRUCTURE-TO-STRUCTURE, THEY TERRORIZED THE CITY
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They unlawfully entered the homes of innocent people in search of The Pursuers. They dragged anyone suspected of harboring them out and into the streets. The Pope grew weary at every unsuccessful breach.

“I’m tired of playing cat-and-mouse with you Pursuers! Come out!” An impatient Pope cried out on his communications device loud enough for the whole city to hear. He promised monetary rewards to the first ones who spotted them. Sadly, money still had its influence to some, even in revolution. Moreover, opportunists called in with their tips as soon as the offer slithered from the tongue of the Devil.

“The Pope has issued a million-dollar reward for anyone who spots the phenomena that call themselves “Mosqidou,” … The Pursuers. They have been one of the many Internet sensations ever since the disclosure of Aliens, Angels and Demons,” a news reporter covered the events from a distance away.

Mercenaries from different Planets met the Pope and his forces on the streets of Rome. These mercenaries were descendants of Planets beyond Earth’s stars: Vega, Dubhe and Vy Canis Majoris to be exact. They appeared North in special vehicles dispatched by stealthy craft stationed in the night sky. “Aries, get rid of them!” Aries sent six of her replicas to meet them head on.

Huge firefights filled the streets and atmosphere. Protestors and innocent bystanders fled for their lives.

“At last, here comes some support from the Dark Graduates,” the Pope boasted as he recognized a small fleet of ships appearing from the West.

Taurus said, “They’ve taken their time, but they’ve come to terms nonetheless. I wonder what persuaded them.”

The Pope replied, “I’m pretty sure I have an idea, but there’s no time for that. Go and kill those damn vigilantes. They are in our way.”

Taurus and Aries worked together combining elements of Fire and Earth, ridding the streets of the vigilantes. It was a complete mismatch. The mercenaries didn’t stand a chance against the Pope’s Reptilian and Nephilim forces, let alone the Zodiacs. The rest wisely abandoned their posts and retreated.

Unfortunately, Capricorn made his approach. The fleeing mercenaries ran past him and right into the unsuspecting clutches of his Dead Rising Minions. Capricorn, too focused on his target, ignored their cries for mercy.

“My replicas are in despair. I must investigate this threat personally,” Aries said while shaking uncontrollably.

The Pope said, “Quickly, go and eradicate the problem and return. We still have Pursuers to crush.”

Believing they had cleared the streets, the Pope and his group watched as a mysterious figure slowly emerged from the street’s shadows. It was one of Capricorn’s Dead Rising minions. It carried two heads in its hands. The Pope knew instantly from whose bodies they were both violently removed.

“Move!” The Pope shoved people out of the way. He approached the fiend and chopped off its head with his Vampeer sword.

He picked up the heads of his two most trusted soldiers. “I will avenge you, Cameron and Julius.” He tossed their heads down and shouted, “Capricorn!”

Over a thousand flesh-hungry Devils ran in his direction. Capricorn had granted them free will to feast upon the flesh of anyone in their radius.

“Incoming!” one of his Reptilian soldiers shouted.

They hid behind special vehicles and unleashed a barrage of laser fire. Heads and limbs parted from their bodies, but Capricorn’s Dead Rising kept coming. A special group sunk their teeth into two of the Pope’s Nephilim Giants … instantly transforming them both and turning them against their Monarch.

“Unhand me, you bastard!” One took the Pope and exited into the shadows of an alleyway. His men pursued, but they encountered more Dead Rising.

The whole force scattered. They lacked formation and a leader. Every man fended for himself, while more began to turn, increasing the number of Dead Rising minions. As for the Dark Graduates, it would’ve been suicide had they deployed. Wisely, they remained above ground gazing at a lost city and shooting whatever they could from their spacecraft.

“What’s happened here?” Virgo asked as she and Scorpio arrived with their group, which consisted of more Reptilian and Super Human soldiers.

Taurus spoke up, “Capricorn ... he’s arrived.”

Virgo asked, “He hasn’t been turned yet? Where is Pisces?”

Taurus answered, “She’s on the other side of town in search of The Pursuers, as instructed. I assume you haven’t found them?”

Virgo answered, “No, we’ve only come across angry protestors and a few vigilantes.”

Scorpio also asked, “Well? Where is this Capricorn?”

Taurus replied, “After we kill all of his little zombie maids, he will soon come out of hiding.”

“Hey! Where are you going?” Taurus yelled as Scorpio ran into the war-scarred city. Impatient, he couldn’t wait to set his eyes on another Zodiac, even if differences were punishable by death. Taurus commented, “That stubborn boy runs to his death. I thought you had him under control, Virgo?”

Virgo retaliated, “I’m through being a babysitter. I’ve completed my mission by transporting him to Rome safely. If you want to pursue him, I will not stop you.”

Taurus said, “Fuck it. Let the boy learn his lesson.”

Capricorn waited in a quiet, dark alley. The two Nephilim-turned-Dead Rising Giants guarded the Zodiac. The eruption of gunfire lit the scene as if it were day. He received a visitor and called the bloodthirsty Giants away. Through the entire melee, Scorpio couldn’t help but smile after setting his eyes upon another Zodiac. Capricorn felt Scorpio’s Zodiac aura as soon as he approached.

Scorpio said, “Zodiac, you hide. Why?”

Capricorn answered, “I do not hide. I am here for reasons of my own that have brought you right to me.”

Scorpio countered, “You’re on a balcony as your wretched beasts do all your dirty work. Looks like you’re hiding to me, Zodiac.”

Capricorn asked, “Let me guess, you disobeyed orders from your fellow Luciferians to be here? Why did you side with such evil?”

Scorpio answered, “No one gives me orders, Zodiac. If you weren’t so naïve, the truth would have been presented to you.”

Capricorn asked sarcastically, “Oh? And, what truth is that?”

Scorpio answered, “We are the descendants of what you look down upon. It is not evil. It is our history, our origin. Not only does infighting bring disgrace, it jeopardizes our survival.”

Capricorn responded, “Bullshit, your mind is gone. The sacrifice of women and children is nothing but pure evil, you stupid shit.”

Scorpio exploded, “Fine! Have it your way. You’ve already killed hundreds of our men and only stall our advances. Our mission is far more important than a stupid grudge-carrying Zodiac. Prepare to die!”

At the sound of the threat, the Dead Rising became hostile and rushed to their Master’s aid.

Capricorn put up a hand to stop the Dead. “No! I will take care of this one myself.” Capricorn descended a ladder, exiting the balcony of an abandoned condo to meet Scorpio in the street.

Far from inviting, Aquarius and Libra entered a war-torn Rome. Their obsession in finding the answers to their origin motivated them to advance in the madness. Reptilian forces, along with Dead Rising minions, met them in the streets. They disposed of them without bringing attention to themselves.

“How are we to find our answers in all this?” Libra asked, looking at the rubble that was Rome.

“We keep going until we come across a Zodiac. We must follow the explosions,” Aquarius replied.

They entered many sanctuaries, but they found only more Dead Rising minions, as well as other species that didn’t hesitate to bring contest.

“Ashhgghh.” They saw a man in pain, alone.

“No, that that couldn’t be …” Aquarius studied the man with her gifts as he stepped in a puddle in the street. “That’s the Pope.”

They went to his aid before anyone else could see him and introduced themselves. His eyes lit up, and he collapsed.

“You’ve been bit!” Libra remarked.

The Pope answered, “Yes, I don’t have much time. Soon I will be turned into one of those damn things.” He took out another copy of the Scroll in Lucifer’s handwriting.

“What’s that?” Libra asked.

“Your history … where you originated from, my dear. Read it and accept it.” The Pope’s speech faltered.

“Step away from the Pope at once, or see your lives forfeited!”

Guns drawn, Reptilians and Super humanoids surrounded the two Zodiacs. Pisces herself made her way to them.

The Pope said, “This must be my unfortunate but lucky night! Pisces, behold. Embrace your Zodiac counterparts!”

The three Zodiacs observed each other. However, despite the reunion, the streets still swamped with Dead Rising, and more kept coming.

“Hurry, before I turn! Open the Scroll!” the Pope cried.

“That will not be necessary.” Natenal approached them, along with the rest of his group. Daniel and Goliath had yet to join them.

The Pope said, “Ha! This should be quite interesting, if not downright entertaining. Welcome, Pursuers!”

Aquarius stared at them. “And, you would be?”

Natenal answered, “We are Archangels, children of God, here to destroy that Scroll. It contains nothing but the purest evil.”

The Pope replied, “Lies!” he spoke to Pisces, who moved towards the Pope to stand guard over him and the Scroll. “Do not let them take the Scroll away from me!”

Levi assessed the enemy and spoke to Cancer. “Pisces is lost. But the other two, it’s clear they have not set eyes upon the iniquities within that Scroll. It is best if you share words with meaning. We haven’t much time, so make it fast.”

Cancer approached his two Zodiac cousins. “I know our meeting falls under the most unfortunate circumstances, but your next decision will mark the fate of our whole Covenant. If you open that Scroll, you will unleash a darkness that cannot be contained. Yes, we are descendants of evil; and at a previous time, our ancestors united with Lucifer. However, that was the past. We can create our own destiny … a path that only we can follow and make right. With that being said, Brethren, you have little time to make your decision. I am sorry.”

The Pope replied, “Do not listen to him, Zodiacs!”

The Pope lapsed into unconsciousness. He was moments away from being turned.

Aquarius and Libra found the secret they had sought. They found the truth behind their existence.

“So, Sagittarius was lying all along. He must have been turned before his death,” Aquarius realized.

Libra spoke to Aquarius, “Let us go. We have what we came for. We can go back and live normal lives.”

Natenal said, “Not if their agenda is met. Stand with us and fight, Sisters. Lucifer will not let you live knowing that you willfully elected not to side with him. He will come after you and your family until you have submitted to him. The time is now to fight and make a statement.”

Aquarius said, “You could be right, but all of our inquiries have been met. Our work is finished here.”

Pisces yelled, “Silence! I’ve heard enough. What a shame it has to end like this. Let us hope that after your deaths, the heirs to your power will not be as senseless.”

Libra added, “A shame indeed. We could have been something great, maybe in another life.”

Libra walked away as Natenal and the rest of The Pursuers clashed with Pisces and the Pope’s forces. Aquarius, on the other hand, could not help but feel some consideration for her outnumbered Zodiac cousin. She stayed behind and watched.

“ADAM! COME BACK, BROTHER!”

Adam went mad. He ran off into the streets of Rome searching for the Pope. Abdeen gave chase, and his Brother Abdeel pursued them both. Adam’s Supernatural Carpet hovered over Rome, trailing them all.

They ran into all categories of hazards: Capricorn’s Dead Rising, Demons, Super Humans and Hybrids. The Pursuers must keep Adam alive long enough so he could relay the disturbing truth about their Son Paul to Aries and dismantle Lucifer’s Zodiac advantage. He continued running rampant through the city streets, mercilessly cutting down anything in his path. He saw a flashing light down the street, evidence of a developing Dimension. He sat and waited in front of it, hoping fortune would bring the Pope to him. It was not so, but the two who came through would have to do. Crusix and Helena emerged from the Gateway, accompanied by a small flotilla of Devils.