Pursuit of the Zodiacs (57 page)

Despite looking into the eyes of two dead and rotting Gatekeepers, a determined Lisa entered the forbidden Dimension. Capricorn reached the Gateway. He looked in from the outside, and what he saw terrified him. Nevertheless, the well-being of his cousin gave him the courage to overcome his fears. He entered the Gateway. Lisa found a suitable location for her voice to echo off the trees of the field. Confident in her gift, she took out her harp and waited.

Capricorn yelled out to his cousin. “Lisa! Please don’t be stupid. You’re going to get us both killed!”

Too late for her to turn back, Demons appeared from all depths of the Dimension blocking all escape routes. Capricorn reached her, fell behind her, and closed his eyes as he summoned for his Dead Rising.

“Lisa, your voice had better open Heaven’s Gate too, because we need a miracle.”

She sang, and the innocence of her voice alone created the miracle they needed. Weird symbols escaped from her tongue, and it coincided with the wind as it blew. Her tone and the notes she hit brought Devils to their knees. Some were Redeemed
at that very moment. Her paralyzing voice caused Demons to flee, never to return to that Dimension. Most Demons broke their own Covenants by staying to listen.

Capricorn built up the courage to open his eyes. He encouraged her to keep singing. Soon the whole city assembled outside of that same Dimension looking in.

That was his best memory of her before her disappearance.

End of Capricorn’s Dream

He woke up in another Dimension, having traveled from one to the other, near and far, not sure where he was destined to go. He wanted nothing more than to be at peace, somewhere. Despite his age, nothing or no one dared challenge him. They knew what he was, and stayed away. Those who did challenge the Zodiac ended up regretting it later inside the walls of the Judgment Realm. Finding a place of refuge grew ever so imminent.

Two Gatekeepers warned him not to enter an unwitnessed Dimension. Avoiding any altercation with the stubborn Zodiac, they simply let him pass and closed the gate behind him. Whatever fate followed, he’d chosen it on his own despite their cautionary advice.

He dwelled in a land of Giants. The trees resembled skyscrapers, and they eclipsed the Sun. In awe of this strange World, he failed to detect a beast in the middle of its meal as one leg of its victim fell by the Zodiac’s side. Capricorn stood still, trying his hardest not to make a sound. It had ten legs that surpassed his own height, and its fangs aided in pushing its prey into its massive jaws. Capricorn had seen enough. In desperation, he used his gifts, punishing the same gates he entered minutes prior in order to escape the grasps of the monstrosity. The Gatekeepers fled, assuming that he’d let the monster out. The beast lost interest and held off its pursuit.

A few hours later, Laurentina, another one of the surviving members of the Children of Time, visited him in spirit form.

“Am I dreaming again?” He asked while rubbing his eyes to confirm what he saw.

She touched his arm. Startled, he drew it back.

Laurentina, “No, you are not Jeremy.”

Capricorn responded, “There was a time before this whole Pursuit, before the death of my Father, and before Lisa’s disappearance, I used to go by that name. I was
at peace with the Universe. Since everything has gone cold, I no longer go by that name. I am a Zodiac, and will forever more go by the name, ‘Capricorn.’”

Laurentina replied, “I see so much pain in your eyes, Capricorn. Hopefully this bit of news will bring you some joy.”

Capricorn asked, “What news?”

Laurentina continued, “Lisa lives and sends her regards. She says she’s sorry she had to go as she did, but it was the only way. After the deaths of so many, it was best that we parted from Saturn altogether.”

The news brought Capricorn a bit of comfort. He found something to look forward to: the hope of seeing Lisa again. He expectantly asked, “Can you take me to her?”

Laurentina answered, “No, it is a journey you must undertake on your own. You will find us on the Mountain of the Seven Moons. She said we could trust you with the secret of our location; and for the sake of us all, I pray she is right. Our lives are in your hands, Capricorn.”

“I will give anything to hear Lisa’s voice again.” Capricorn watched as Laurentina faded away.

Capricorn prepared for his trip to the Mountain of the Seven Moons, still underground in dark places where he felt safe with his Dead Rising. They followed him wherever he went, ready for any command, devoted to their Zodiac.

He met the Sun after parting from his Underworld. “You cannot follow me here. Go, now. I will call upon you again.” They obeyed and departed through the shadows.

“Who were you talking to, and what were you doing down there?” A construction worker asked as he saw Capricorn exiting a tunnel next to a restricted train site. “Hey! This is no place for a kid to play around.”

Capricorn ignored him and strolled onto a busy street where people minded their business. He walked up to a newspaper stand near a bus stop and skimmed through some of the local newspapers and magazines. He discovered his location: Connecticut. “Who are they?” Mosqidou was on the front page of
The Wall Street Journal
followed by the word, “Disclosure.” He ripped the newspaper in half and continued his trip.

Capricorn sensed someone watching him. He walked down the street, hoping to figure out the observer. His instincts served him well as two supernatural beings, shape-shifters, followed him. They followed him to an underground passageway that ultimately brought them to another train station.

Capricorn spoke, “Let’s do us all a favor and put a halt to this game of tag. Despite my age, I have no fucking time for amusement.”

The shape-shifters reverted to their Reptilian forms and attacked Capricorn as one, special swords being their weapons of choice, well-crafted from a fine armory, manufactured on their Planet. They swung with deadly intent. The sharp blades bounced off the impenetrable skin of Capricorn’s arms as he protected his neck and head.

Capricorn countered, ripping off the arm of the Reptilian closest to him. “Aaaaggghhhhh,” he yelled in pain as he fell to the ground.

“You Bastard!” The other one yelled as he cautiously fell back to avoid losing one of his own limbs. The Reptilian shape-shifted into all classes of creatures, trying to find one that would give him an advantage over Capricorn. This technique worked as Capricorn’s defense weakened by the confusion of his enemy’s constant transmutation.

Seeing Capricorn bested from all corners of the tunnel gave the other Reptilian confidence in their contract. He had made it to his feet and assisted his partner after witnessing the success of constant shape-shifting.

Out of frustration, Capricorn summoned his minions, but it would take minutes before they arrived to help him. Capricorn had to endure punishment from his constantly changing foes.

However, shape-shifting tired the two Reptilian assassins. Capricorn had been taught by one of the best, his Father Peter, who was a Master and Champion of his Dojo.

Capricorn threw one of the Reptilians into the wall of the tunnel. The other was deprived of that courtesy as Capricorn used a series of kicks to break both its legs. The Reptilians were crushed. Capricorn’s minions clawed their way through the side of the tunnel. The passengers in a passing train rushed to the opposite window of their cart for a better view, astounded by the spectacle playing out before their eyes.

Surrounded, they asked, “Only the Elder Zodiacs are capable of summoning. How did you develop this technique so early at your age?”

Capricorn answered, “I’ve had the liberty of being trained by three of the best mentors anyone could ever ask for: Aquarius, Libra and my Father, who in time I shall meet again … but not this day.”

“Who are you? And, whom do you represent?”

One of the Reptilians replied, “We are executioners from the Dark Lord himself. Due to your lack of cooperation, you’ve been deemed a traitor. We’ve been ordered to eliminate you.”

Capricorn thought a moment. “So, Lucifer wants me dead, huh?”

The Reptillians answered, “Yes, you’ve put a halt to his ultimate plan. Since you have no interest in his agenda, he wanted you eradicated so he can have an heir who will cooperate. Now, we’ve answered your questions; will you grant us life?”

Capricorn replied, “No, my Dead Rising must feed.”

With death closing in, they took out their laser guns and shot themselves in the head before being eaten alive. Capricorn continued out of the tunnel, while his dead minions feasted upon the flesh of his would-be executioners.

Aquarius and Libra encountered strange beings. Despite the noise from the explosion, the beings remained unconscious. They failed in their attempt to wake them and only alerted the heavily armed Vampeers, who rushed towards the room. Libra used her unique ability to walk up walls and positioned herself. Hanging from the ceiling right above the door, she waited for the incoming Vampeers. Aquarius patiently sat on one of the medical tables as a diversion. With puzzling looks upon their faces, the Vampeers looked on, while Aquarius smiled at them, almost flirting. Once inside, Libra sent a hurricane-force wind to disarm them. The Vampeers slammed into walls and other fortifications in the room.

Aquarius severed and rolled heads with her strange but remarkable Water-Bearing Sword. It had the appearance of water in the shape of a sword. The edge was sharp and cut finer than the average Katana. For a second she could see the blood
of her victims appear in the sword, then disappear, strengthening it more due to the liquid compound of the blood.

Meanwhile, Libra ran from wall to wall confusing her pursuers as she returned laser fire from odd angles.

Aquarius and Libra defeated the Vampeers in the room. However, they knew the next squadron would soon come marching through the halls. They had to move fast.

Aquarius diverted Libra’s attention away from the unconscious entities on the medical tables. “There’s nothing we can do for them, Libra. They are lost.”

They ran down the hall and came across an interface. Their view of the high altitudes was cut short when they heard and saw Giants onboard bashing additional Vampeers. “They must be captives too,” asserted Libra.

Aquarius cautioned, “No Libra, wait. I don’t think they’re looking for allies.”

She was right. As soon as the Giants made eye contact, they combined their gifts and released a burst of wind and water towards the charging Giants, punishing everything in the hall. The Giants tumbled upon one another.

Sagittarius shouted, “Aquarius, Libra, hold your fire!”

Libra said, “Sagittarius? How did you get here?”

Sagittarius responded, “There’s no time to get into specifics, but you just sent our only allies on this craft down the hall.”

Aquarius questioned, “Who were they?”

Sagittarius answered, “They’re Annunaki.”

Libra probed, “Annunaki? What would Vampeers want with Annunaki? Moreover, how were they even capable of capturing so many?”

Sagittarius explained, “If you haven’t noticed already, they are no ordinary Vampeers. They are manufactured, bloodthirsty Tyrants, an abomination deserving its own high level of extinction.”

A disembodied voice came over the ship’s intercom. The leader and orchestrator of this whole nightmare said, “The visitation rights of our Zodiac guests onboard this ship have been revoked. Anyone who brings me their heads will be highly rewarded.”

Sagittarius spoke, “Vega, he needs to die. The head of this tyranny needs to be destroyed before we leave here. He’s a danger to us all.”

After collecting themselves, Sagittarius informed the Annunaki of his relationship with Aquarius and Libra, thereby eliminating any further misunderstandings. They moved from hall to hall, and room to room, in search of the captain himself.

“Damn, how large is this ship!” A frustrated Aquarius shouted.

“Here, this way,” one of the Annunaki responded. He directed them towards the main control room. He remembered the way very well, having made his way there several times in the past. Two tall, thick metal doors blocked their vengeance. Big as they were, the Annunaki could not break through.

“Don’t waste your time. This door must be breached with elements, not brute strength,” Sagittarius said. “Give us some room.”

Sagittarius yelled to Aquarius, “Freeze the door.”

Despite their differences, she did as he asked and moved aside. Sagittarius used his gift and pressed his flame-engulfed hands against the door. The frozen metal cracked and broke away from his hands, revealing the inside of the control room.

They gazed through the portal and met Vega’s eyes. He stood behind dozens of soldiers, who proceed to push them back through the door and out into the hall. Meanwhile, Aquarius caught Vega ascending a flight of stairs.

Aquarius yelled, “He’s heading for the roof of the craft. We must hurry.”

Sagittarius replied, “No, wait!”

The Annunaki pushed past the soldiers pursuing Vega, leaving the Zodiacs to fend for themselves. They employed all of their elements combined and eliminated the remaining Vampeers. Some ran through the halls of the ship engulfed in flames, while others lay with punctured hearts.