Pursuit of the Zodiacs (18 page)

Farooq suggested, “Okay, it’s time to move.”

They put out the fire and gathered their belongings. The enemy was close enough to be seen without the use of binoculars.

They mounted their respective hybrid camels with Asad taking the lead. “There’s no time. We must take this escape to the clouds.”

Time ran out.

Taurus yelled, “Hurry, they’re escaping!”

Accompanying Taurus was Zen, Demetrius, and a group of highly skilled savage Demon followers. Just as they closed in on the Three Kings, Farooq, Rashad, and Asad, made an aerial escape. Their oppressors watched as the saddles of the Three Kings converted into Supernatural Carpets. They looked down at their grounded oppressors and bid them farewell. The Three Kings departed, and their enemies observed the microchips and lights generating from beneath the Supernatural Carpets.

“What technological bullshit is this?” Taurus, so enraged that he charged towards the hybrid camels that they’d left behind. The power emanating from Taurus’s massive horns incinerated them instantly. Their cinders blew in the wind.

The Three Kings reached safety and made an immediate decision. Asad spoke first. “This Scroll must be destroyed within the hour.”

Farooq, “Amen.”

Rashad, “May Allah be praised.”

SATURN

It was a warm afternoon, and a Father and Son engaged in a friendly game of Chess at a temple in their town.

“I must say, for a person with a reputation for being patient, I think your hastiness is starting to get the better of you, my Son.”

“Sorry, Father, but you’ve bested me once again. My King is cornered. I have nowhere else to go.”

The temple was beautiful, similar to a golden Buddhist temple. Not too far away, a school of children and their instructors underwent their daily exercise routine, trying hard not to break formation. The town’s people simply went about their daily lives. For years, Saturn’s civilization, along with many others, implemented a plan to deceive outsiders into thinking life on their Planet didn’t exist. The outside was only a hologram perfected by Saturn’s own implementation of advanced technology via Super Satellites.

“Wait. Hold on, Son.”

The Father noticed two odd women approaching. The women removed their hoods, and the Father recognized them as Aquarius and Libra. He walked over to a nearby water fountain to meet them. His Son recognized them too, and smiled and waved. He resumed staring at the Chessboard trying to figure out where his strategy had gone wrong.

The Father spoke, “I don’t think this is another random day of sparring. What’s the news?”

Aquarius answered, “The day we all despised has arrived. The Pursuit of all the Zodiacs has initiated, and your Son is no longer safe here.”

The Father questioned, “What? But, but, he is only a little boy! What would anyone want with him?”

Libra spoke, “We don’t want to take any chances finding that out. I’m certain it’s best your Son come with us, Peter. May Saturn give him strength during these challenging days ahead.”

Aquarius and Libra spent years trying to find the other remaining members of the Zodiacs, but had come up short until they found Capricorn hidden on his Ruling
Planet, Saturn. Unearthing Capricorn provided them hope in finding the rest. Unfortunately, he was only eleven, too young and inexperienced to engage in combat. So, over time, they trained him to control his gifts using friendly sparring sessions, just in case the day would come when he needed to use them. They swore to serve and protect him by any means necessary until the threat ceased.

Peter said, “This is ridiculous! I cannot allow this.”

Aquarius responded, “Peter, you were warned of this day. Why is it such a revelation to you?”

Libra added, “I can only imagine how difficult this must be, being the boy’s Father … and especially at his age. But this is the only way we can guarantee his safety.”

Capricorn’s Father tried holding back tears. “Despite my reluctance to let my Son go, I understand.”

As Peter walked towards his Son, Aquarius whispered, “The Father must not know where we are going. Make certain we don’t leave a trail.”

Libra asked, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

Aquarius answered, “It must be done. The only thing of importance is Capricorn and finding the remaining Zodiacs. It will strengthen the chances of our survival.”

Libra questioned, “Is your blood as cold as the water you bear?”

Aquarius coldly answered, “Yes, may my decision trump any regrets. Make sure the deed is done.”

Peter hugged his Son, not sure if it would be the last time. Aquarius and Libra took the boy and left so as not to prolong the Father-and-Son goodbye.

An hour later, as the Father swept and prepared to clean the dust off a massive town bell, a visitor surprised him. At first, he was pleased to see Libra, hoping she’d returned with good news regarding his Son. Instead, as Libra entered the temple, she
closed and locked the door behind her. Peter had his eyes locked on the massive bell that, if sounded, would warn the whole town of any immediate danger. But Libra blew him clear across the room with menacing winds. His powerless frame slammed hard against a bookshelf and collapsed in a heap on the floor. Peter said, “You bastards! I should have seen this coming. To think I could have trusted you two with my Son, you truly are descendants of evil!”

Conceiving a Zodiac proved no accident. Peter was no ordinary man and had gifts of his own. He got up and circled Libra. He grabbed his uncannily long bamboo stick, a weapon that brought him many victories and had earned him the title of Grand Master of his World many years back. When the bamboo stick struck an opponent, it gave off an electrical charge.

Peter continued, “After all we’ve been through, you’re just going to murder me and smile in my Son’s face when you see him? What a shame. State your real intentions with my Son. I can’t allow him to grow up a heartless monster because of the likes of you two. Over my dead body!”

Libra responded, “This is the only way, Grand Master. My apologies.”

The markings on Peter’s head glowed, as did his eyes, as he charged towards Libra who dodged an impressive blow from his bamboo. “Come down, monster.”

Libra back-flipped onto the ceiling. She moved her arms in an unorthodox manner. As her eyes glowed, a cyclone formed in the center of the temple. The cyclone forced Peter’s bamboo stick from his hands. His grip grew weak; and, not a moment too soon, Peter submitted and was pulled into the cyclones core. He was spun around the room and knocked against walls and fixtures. Libra steadied her arms and the forcing winds stopped. The beaten former Grand Master fell to the floor, unmoving. She warily approached him for a final blow. But a battered and bruised Peter made her pay for her hesitance. He grabbed her by the ankles, pulling her down on her back. His anger encouraged his last deed as a vengeance-seeking Father. He threw her against the golden bell with such a force that Libra cracked the bell. The impact was enough to alarm the town.

Despite the force with which she had hit the bell, Libra wasn’t fatally injured. Furious, she yelled, “Damn!”

His injuries and the exertion from throwing Libra against the golden bell had taken their toll. “Take care of my Son, and may he be strong.”

Libra limped over to Peter for the final strike with her signature guillotine axe. “I will.”

A well-defined blow to the Grand Master’s neck separated his head an inch from his body.

Libra remembered the bell, and knew that the whole town would be on their way to investigate its continuing reverberation. Her escape must be quick and even more precise.

Moments later she heard a cry. “Someone has killed the Grand Master!”

Capricorn collapsed, holding his chest. “Ahhgh.”

Aquarius ran to him. “What’s wrong, child?”

Capricorn spoke, “I don’t know. I feel like something bad happened, but I don’t know what it is.”

Capricorn grimaced in pain, still clutching his chest. Aquarius knelt down and tried to console him.

Aquarius observed Libra as she entered. Libra nodded indicating that her duties had been carried out. Aquarius looked back at Capricorn and understood the reason for his distress.

Libra slowly entered her quarters tired and in pain. Aquarius left the boy for a few minutes to confer with Libra. “I knew you were going to be tested. Just how much of a threat was he?”

Libra answered, “Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Zodiac. I had it under control. He was strong and, considering the circumstances, I gave him an honorable death.”

Aquarius remarked, “This was very unfortunate, but despite his title as Grand Master, it wouldn’t have been long before a stronger force was unleashed upon him. We both know he would’ve been detained, tortured and confessed our whereabouts. You must understand this Libra. Rest and sleep well. We have a long journey to Earth following Sunrise.”

Aquarius walked away and closed the door.

Incalculable amounts of people covered the streets of Sendai, Japan as the traditional “Year of The Dragon Ceremony” got underway. Desperate with no other options, The Pursuers traveled through the midst of the crowd in search of their intended target. To add to the confusion, fireworks erupted on every street corner of the city, and thousands upon thousands of people flooded the streets with costumes and random unusual attire. The Pursuer’s concentration had to be keen, like an owl pursuing its prey.