Pursuit of the Zodiacs (62 page)

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.

Cameron and Julius both lied there exhausted and defeated. Certain that the threat was over, Capricorn and Goken came out of hiding.

“My followers will do you no harm, Goken. These two, on the other hand, will have a slow and painful death.”

Impressed by the Zodiac’s gift of summoning the dead, Goken left to check on his Giant.

Capricorn spoke to Cameron and Julius. “I demand that you two tell me who sent you.”

After no reply, he told two of his minions to feast on Julius’s arm in retribution for Goken almost losing his own.

“Arrghhh!” replied the Child of Sirius.

Horrified, Cameron’s loyalty to the Pope ceased. He told Capricorn the name of their dispatcher.

Capricorn replied, “See? Why did it have to come to your friend losing his arm?”

Goken returned with his arm bandaged and spoke, “You two fools put your lives at risk for the Pope? What a damned disgrace.”

Capricorn added, “You’re in luck. One of you will have the liberty of forwarding this message to him.”

Cameron pleaded that he let them both live.

Capricorn responded, “On second thought, I will deliver the message to the Pope personally.”

He ordered his Dead Rising minions to partake of their flesh. Surprised by the Zodiac’s unmerciful judgment, Goken didn’t intervene and decided to head back to his post in front of the Secret Mountain of the Seven Moons. “This is a war I cannot involve myself in,” he told himself as he heard the cries of the two Children of Sirius.

Capricorn replied, “I understand, Goken. Good luck on the continuance of keeping this place pure. I’ve come to realize who my true enemies are; and, most importantly, my friends.”

Goken said, “Thank you, Zodiac. Good luck on your journey, as well. I see something unique in you, and I’m certain your path will be righteous. I will pray for your success in ridding this Universe of its evil presence.”

Capricorn embraced his words of encouragement and left him to his duties. And, in respect to Goken, he ordered his minions to rid the field of the dead before they descended back into their Underworld.

“WHO ARE YOU? COME WITH US!”

Guns drawn, two Reptilian soldiers met them at the gates of the Dimension. Daniel and Goliath disposed of the two and stepped out of the portal.

They heard a whisper, “Pursuers.”

Both Pursuers investigated. A strange woman appeared from the side of a house. It was Lucille. She introduced herself and updated them on everything she knew.

“Can she be trusted?” Goliath asked.

“I’m not sure of that yet. But her information seems valid,” Daniel replied.

They walked back up and approached the former Dark Graduate.

Daniel spoke, “You will come with us, you will inform the others of this news.”

“Wait!” Goliath sensed something strange and motioned for everyone to take cover.

Over a hundred Reptilian soldiers patrolled the streets. They shape-shifted into humans to blend in, and moved on towards the Cathedral.

“Let’s take my ship to your safehouse,” Lucille insisted.

They accepted her invitation, boarded her craft, and minutes later, arrived at the safehouse.

After an hour, no one arrived. They searched all corners of the safehouse, still no sign of any Pursuers.

“They must have gone to see the Pope and the remaining Zodiacs,” Goliath declared.

“No, the Pope and the Zodiacs are already here,” Daniel confirmed after witnessing close to a thousand beings outside a window. The same Reptilian soldiers patrolling the streets were outside awaiting orders.

“Great, what do we do?” Lucille said.

Daniel announced, “Despite our combined gifts, their numbers are far too great to face on our own. We must find a way out of here.”

In another secret part of the hideout, Regal released his pets through a small window. “Okay, it is time we go our separate ways, my friends. If this is the end, it is only right that you make your own way.” He found it hard setting his animals free. They didn’t want to leave, forcing him to chase them away. As they fled into the New World, he shouted after them, “Good luck.”

“Come out, bugs, and be nothing more than muck under the heels of our boots.” The Pope shouted. Accompanied by nothing but power, Aries, Taurus, Scorpio, Pisces, Virgo, the three remaining Talismen and over a thousand soldiers of different Races of extraterrestrials all positioned outside the safehouse.

Daniel summoned a funnel cloud, but the winds would not obey, courtesy of one of the Zodiacs.

Pisces breached the safehouse.

Goliath dispatched mosquitoes all over the safe house. One signaled the breach, and each one moved in to collect blood from the Zodiac. They clung to her flesh as she tried to fend them off.

They scanned the library of the safe house for a secret door. Daniel discovered a latch behind a series of books. They escaped into an underground tunnel.

“I knew there was an escape hatch somewhere,” Daniel confirmed.

They headed farther down the tunnel. “Goliath? Daniel? You two are alive!” a startled Regal said while slowly lowering his weapon.

Daniel said, “Yes, Regal, where are the others?”

Regal added, “They left to go meet the same ones who have visited us this night. I’m afraid someone tipped them off. We must tread carefully. Through here, follow me.”

Regal led them through another secret underground chamber in the walls of one of the tunnels. The chamber contained all manner of secret books consisting of alien and foreign dialects, Scrolls with records covering important events, classified weaponry and statues of Archangels. They could hear the safehouse burning to the ground overhead.

Regal said, “They will not find us here. We must wait until they grow weary and lose interest.”

“THAT IS ENOUGH ARIES,” THE POPE ORDERED
.

The Pursuers’ safehouse burnt to the ground.

“No one is here. They’ve fled,” Taurus confirmed.

The Pope replied, “They’re still in the area. We will split up in groups and look for them, even if we have to scan the whole damn city! This threat ends tonight!”