Pursuit of the Zodiacs (34 page)

Mileck asked, “What the Hell was that? What’s going on, Jacob?”

Jacob answered, “This must be done.”

Mileck warned, “We’ve already gone over this. If the Dark Graduates find out, we are both dead!”

Jacob responded, “And if we do nothing, we are both dead either way. So I repeat, I’ll understand if you want no part of this objective, Brother. If it’ll bring you comfort, you can go and report the events taking place here to the Dark Graduates. I’ll take full responsibility.”

Mileck said, “I cannot accept either alternative, Brother. What is the damn status?”

Jacob introduced him to Rashad, and they went over plans. He handed Mileck the binoculars. But, before he could get a clear vision, a bullet from a silenced sniper rifle removed Mileck’s forehead.

“Everyone, get down!” Rashad yelled.

The attack didn’t stop there. Mercenaries took cover while desperately trying to avoid Sagittarius’s precision striking. They searched for their assailant while the dead bodies’ of their associates plummeted to the ground. Formations and front lines broke, leaving mercenaries scattered around the field.

“Mileck!” Jacob cried out to his friend slumped over the window in a pool of his own blood.

“Remain calm, and stay down!” Rashad yelled again as he instructed his men to advance to the house. They saw a little boy sitting down in plain sight in the open field.

“There’s a little boy sitting in the field. He seems distressed. Should we bring him to safety?” One of his men inquired.

Rashad replied, “A little boy sitting down in the field?”

Jacob overheard them and cried, “Don’t let that little boy deceive you. He’s a Zodiac! Send orders to take him out!”

Before the five soldiers in the front received their orders, communication systems failed, and the boys’ form changed. Two horns grew from his forehead, almost curving to the back of his skull. His skin became as tough as the hooves of a goat. His eyes glowed and lost their pupils. He extended one of his hands upward, and Rashad’s men were dragged into the Earth by the hands of monsters never seen.

The rest opened fire at a safe distance, but their bullets only bounced off his impenetrable skin. From the left and the right field, Libra and Aquarius made their
entrances, punishing Rashad’s team with their Water and Air Gifts. The pressure applied by the force of their combined Gifts broke bones and ligaments, sending the dismantled bodies of their victims across the field. The Zodiacs advanced, stepping over bodies that showed no sign of bones. Immobilized and in agonizing pain, some begged for death, and Capricorn’s Dead Rising flesh eating minions answered their plea, dragging them into the soil. More soldiers emerged with laser-powered weapons. Aquarius, with her Water Bearing Gift, froze them where they stood. They unleashed another fierce burst of wind, and their frozen bodies shattered against the trees and other fixtures of the ground.

Rashad yelled out, “Come in, Red Team. What’s your status? Come in, Silver Team, what’s your status? Come in, Black Team, what’s your status?”

There was a single response from Jacob. “They are all dead, Rashad. The Zodiacs are too strong. We’ve failed.”

They sensed the enemy outside waiting. “Why do you want to hurt us?” But, before they stepped outside, Capricorn entered the room with questions. He still couldn’t fathom the fact that anyone would want to hurt him. He was alone.

Jacob spoke to Capricorn. “Do what you will with us, but there’s something you need to know, Capricorn. In my jacket over there is a tape recording for only your ears to hear. Make certain no one else listens to it but you, okay?”

Capricorn asked, “Why? What’s on it?”

Jacob answered, “The truth. Libra and Aquarius had your...” he yelled, “Rashad, no!”

Before Jacob could finish, Rashad made his move and chopped Capricorn across the neck with his custom one-handed sword. Capricorn pushed Rashad through a wall showcasing his incredible strength. Jacob looked on in disbelief. Rashad landed hard outside covered in debris in front of Libra, Aquarius and Sagittarius.

Sagittarius spoke, “Well, well, we meet again, vigilante.”

Rashad collected himself slowly. Obviously hurt, he acknowledged the three Zodiacs in their true forms. Aquarius was almost invisible. Her skin was black as oil, but the Blue Blood coursing through her veins gave her away as it illuminated with her eyes. Libra’s skin was of gold, and the scales embossed in her chest gave away her identity. On each scale was the Sun and Moon, and her Wind Sword had the pigment of the Earth. Sagittarius, though humanoid, had the features of a horse. His
face was long, and he was strong. He had long dreaded hair and circuits illuminating from under his skin.

Sagittarius continued, “You just couldn’t let it go, could you? Now look at you.”

Rashad muttered, “Praise be to Allah, the true King.”

Sagittarius told Libra and Aquarius, “I’ve got this one.” To Rashad he said, “Yes, yes, tell that to him when you see him.”

Sagittarius walked up to Rashad. With his gift, he set Rashad’s own sword ablaze and reamed it down his throat. Jacob walked outside just in time to see the horror of Rashad holding his neck, too distressed and in pain to holler.

Jacob moved slowly into their view with Capricorn right behind him. He accepted death as he stood amongst them.

The four Zodiacs hit the ground in unbearable pain clutching their hearts. Jacob made a run for it. Sagittarius desperately struggled into position with his sniper rifle. Jacob, already at a good distance, heard bullets whizzing across the field in his direction. He zigzagged to make himself a harder target to hit.

“Fuck it!” The pain was so severe. Sagittarius gave up, threw his rifle to the ground, and collapsed. The glow generating from the Gems of all the Zodiacs lit up the field, and Libra’s Uncle ran to their aid.

Jedediah walked with confidence through the lengthy hall. His eyes interlocked with the Mover of Suns himself. He saw familiar faces, Archangels and ordinary men who lacked Immortal blood. This brought up a lot of questions and suspicions, which he wisely kept to himself.

He saw more Angels removing a series of maps and Scrolls from various tables in another section of the hall. “Hmm, odd,” he thought. However, his determination to destroy the Zodiacs made him turn his head.

Bishop said, “Excuse us, Jedediah. We are renovating. Let’s get down to business. What is the reason for this unexpected visit?”

Jedediah graciously replied, “It is a pleasure to see you again, Mover of Suns. But this visit is not a social one. I bring you grave news that will affect us all if Lucifer’s agenda prevails.”

Bishop asked, “And, what agenda do you speak of, Jedediah?”

Jedediah answered, “He has begun his Pursuit of the Zodiacs.”

This news gained the attention of everyone in the hall, and they slowly assembled closer to the messenger. The news even caused the Mover of Suns to stand up from his throne.

Bishop sighed. He had been expecting this, but not so soon. “So, it has begun. How come I wasn’t informed of this news sooner?”

Jedediah explained, “This was a confidential mission, only for a select group to investigate.”

Bishop replied, “And, who are the ones that have been called for the mission?”

Jedediah mentioned their collective name for the first time. “Mosqidou, also known as The Pursuers.”

Bishop’s reaction brought confusion to Jedediah.

Bishop said, “Who is the one in charge of this mission?”

Jedediah answered, “Natenal, my Lord. But I strongly believe The Pursuers alone aren’t enough. They need more assistance. I see this mission as only being on the verge of suicide. They cannot go at this alone. This explains the reason for my visit.”

Bishop replied, “I appreciate you coming to me, Jedediah. Who else knows of your visit?”

Jedediah said, “No one knows I’m here. I understand I’m breaking a lot of Covenants by disclosing this information, but the seriousness of this mission is beyond any of us. If Lucifer acquires even half of the Zodiacs, it will be a threat great enough to control the Universe. They would be almost unstoppable.”

Bishop responded, “This disclosure is against God’s will. Again, I cannot blame you for your transgression.”

Jedediah handed Bishop the forged Scroll sealed with the mark of God’s Kingdom.

Bishop mocked, “Do you take me for a fool, Jedediah? I should have you wear your insides for this mockery.” He tossed the Scroll on the floor, upon which it disintegrated instantly.

Bishop continued, “Each Scroll contains a message hidden outside of the Scroll, and it’s also hidden to an unranked eye. It’s a shame how some Angels still consume
the tendencies of Mortal men … to the point where you have to ask yourself how they became Angels in the first place. There is no order anymore, not even between gods.”

Jedediah asked, “What is your meaning?”

Bishop again rose from his throne and paced back and forth with his hands resting behind his back. “I will share our plan. We are going to overthrow the Creator himself. I already have hundreds of spies and colleagues who have dissimilar views dispatched within his Kingdom awaiting my word. There is also one participating in this so-called Pursuit of the Zodiacs.”

Stunned, Jedediah thought to himself, “What have I walked into here?” The greed for more power plagued Bishop for many centuries. He’d fallen victim to the power that God gave him.

Jedediah said, “You’re a damn hypocrite and an ungrateful bastard! You will not get away with this treachery. Your greed for more power will be your own tragic downfall!”

Bishop replied, “Yes, perhaps. Just like how this Pursuit has made men mad in the past. I detected your dishonor the instant you walked in this hall. To think we shared similar views. For a moment, you could’ve been of some use; but now I only see you deterring my plans.”

As he walked away from Jedediah, he ordered his Superior Archangels to seize him. “Execute him far from here … the Moon, preferably. Make it look as if Devils had the better of him, and take care to leave no trace of his visit.”

The Superior Archangels grabbed Jedediah before he could react. He continued his ranting as they dragged him away.

At the White House, Taurus said, “Pisces, you’re going to have to take the form of the First Lady again and announce to the public that you’re taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. We must return to New York City before people become intolerant of my overdue vacation.”

News reporters gathered in the conference room of the White House and awaited the First Lady’s arrival.

Pisces said, “Alright, I’ll take care of the public announcement.” She noticed something on the wall monitor. “Hey, look at this.”

The viral YouTube video surfaced in the mainstream media. People assembled by a monitor in the Oval Office of the White House. Goliath and Daniel succeeded in eliminating the Year of the Dragon, and the World witnessed his body twitching in a pool of its own blood. The rest of the Chinese Zodiacs went missing, and The Pursuers departed before police arrived at the scene. The ones responsible for filming this phenomenon became instant celebrities. Lastly, in the video, secret agents relieved a shaken-up detective Lee of his confinement by helping him out of his overturned vehicle.

“Damn. And, just who the Hell are those guys? What’s going on?” The President shouted. “We need to make that public announcement, Pisces.”

“There are other Zodiacs?” Pisces asked, while altering her form into the fallen First Lady.

“We’ll explain later,” Taurus replied.

She approached the Press Room filled with cameras and reporters. She walked up to the podium and began her speech.

The same fortune that the other Zodiacs had endured struck. “Nooo, not …” Taurus went down on one knee from the pain. Cameras focused on a shape-shifting Pisces hitting the floor. She clutched her chest to mask the light glowing from her heart. She kicked the podium and thudded the mics as some fell from their stands. Security officers moved in fast to remove her, but the damage had already been done. The live footage streamed on television, and all other social media. Cable networks and news outlets rebroadcasted the footage. Within minutes, the World feasted its eyes on yet another viral video.