Pursuit of the Zodiacs (8 page)

Taurus remained seated. “I don’t recall dismissing you. This meeting is not finished! You’re turning your backs on me?”

Taurus pounded on his desk. They marched towards the Mayor and challenged him.

Taurus said, “What? Is this your idea of a joke? Ha! I guess it’s time you two boys were taught a lesson.”

The only candidate for bringing back peace between these Zodiacs would be hearing Taurus beg for his life. Mighty horns emerged from his head. He grew to ten feet tall. “We will be successful without you two bastards.”

They escaped his charge and countered by bringing their fight to the air.

Taurus taunted, “Come down and face me, you air-bending cowards!”

The Gemini yelled back, “You’re an Earth Sign. We know where your advantages lie, Zodiac.”

Taurus said, “And the same goes for your petty Air Sign.”

They applied fierce winds to demolish his form, but a strong and determined Taurus held his ground. Nevertheless, the choking winds affected his breathing, making it almost impossible for him to inhale or exhale. He covered up. His desk became a battering ram as the force of the winds drove it across the Earth Demon’s knee, knocking it clean. It forced Taurus to give up his position.

The Gemini calmed the winds and advanced. Taurus wielded his oversized axe, catching them both off guard. He missed one of the Gemini but hit the next, severing him in half instantly.

Taurus gloated, “Ha! What a waste.”

The other Geminus used the strayed axe as leverage to connect his Air sword with Taurus’s face. Taurus’s horns generated a fierce gravitational pull, yanking the Twin’s Air sword from his hands. His sword spun around the massive horn and finally clanked still.

Grounded from the fall and unarmed, the Twin witnessed the shadow of Taurus’s giant hoof. It gave him no comfort. And, actually seeing it elevated made Gemini even more fearful.

And the comfort he needed emanated from a burst of wind in the shape of a fist knocking the Giant clean across the office and into his own bookshelves.

Astounded, Taurus spoke, “What! But, … but I killed you!”

Gemini laughed. “The Gemini cannot be killed that easily. You’ve lost.”

Taurus said, “Impossible.”

The Gemini took their leave out of a window with a parting message. “Answer your door, and do not jeopardize the mission. We’ll continue searching for the remaining Zodiacs on our own.”

Taurus said, “Whaaaaat! You’re giving me orders, motherfucker?”

“Mr. Mayor!” A loud knock came from outside his door. Security breached the door and found the Mayor back to his humanoid state moving his desk from one side of the room to the other.

The Head of Security asked the Mayor, “Sir, is everything all right in here?”

The Mayor responded, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. “Yes everything is okay. And the cost of this door will be coming out of your next paycheck.”

The Head of Security knew better than to argue. “Understood, Sir. You seem to be walking with a limp. Are you injured?”

“Remove yourself from my office.”

The Head of Security humbly left the Mayor’s office.

TIMIUS’S DREAM

“Timius, come here. I have something to show you.”

It had been seven days since our expedition. Our mission as Explorers paid off. We’ve discovered the marvel. As I observed through the porthole of the special submarine, she had to be no more than thirteen years of age. Deep in the sea’s core, as companions, she danced with a Super Killer Whale, both free. Without the aid of these classified submarines, no human could have endured the temperatures or pressure of the deep waters, so we knew instantly what we were witnessing.

“Men, prepare to engage!” The captain of the submarine announced through the intercom.

“Wait, what’s going on? What are you doing?” I asked my Uncle.

He instructed, “We are going to capture her and run some tests.”

I knew this was a very bad idea, but there was nothing I could say or do to dissuade him. “This is insane. There could be millions just like her. We have very little idea what is going on down there.”

I shouted within the halls and all corners of the submarine, but just like I presumed, no one cared to listen. In another porthole of the submarine, I saw twenty other submarines emerging from the darkness of the abyss. A friendly mission my ass. I’m in the midst of a full search-and-retrieve campaign.

Not only had I been deceived, but I was now at risk. “My god! This isn’t right!” It took the biting chill of death’s encroachment for me to realize my Uncle was a madman, just another fool risking his life and the lives of others for the thrill of Science. “You people fail to realize that some things are to be left out of our jurisdiction. It is not our time to know or else these beings would have made it so.” It was pointless. They didn’t want anything to do with my argument.

What made it even worse, just as I shook my head, he returned the same gesture to me. I banged on the glass of my porthole to warn her, but it was too thick and only made me look mad.

The rest of the crew thought I was too unstable, so they locked me in a room away from any communications device and other limited supplies. I could only watch as total chaos unfolded through another porthole.

I found an audio-video recording device in a locker. She and that whale proved only to be a damn diversion. The thought dwelled in the back of my mind, but with our intelligence team onboard, I assumed that they would’ve seen this threat coming. If it had been this easy to find her, the Zodiac girl deliberately drew us here. A rookie mistake that undoubtedly cost the lives of over a thousand men, including me. Their lust and egos have ended us all.

Over a hundred special unidentified crafts emerged from the abyss, communications failed, and all our firepower failed to discharge. I laughed to myself at how pathetic and inferior we looked to them. Through their communications systems, they introduced themselves as the “People Under the Sea,” and apologized that for the survival of their kind, they could not let us leave there alive.

Just like that, one by one, and in twos and threes, our ships met disaster. Ships nose-dived into the abyss, momentarily engulfed in flames before the water
temperature and pressure took advantage of the exposed openings of the ships. Judging by her calmness, it was not the first time Aquarius played a role in these “diversions.” She had no remorse. She simply continued dancing with that same killer whale, celebrating their accomplishment.

As our ship met their fire, another assumption of mine stood accurate. I’ve seen thousands of other submarines, ships, and unidentified, disc-shaped, submerged objects planted in the sands of the abyss. All had fallen victim to the People Under the Sea. Some dated back centuries, possibly going back as far as over one full millennium.

Beyond the metal graveyard, I witnessed what the People Under the Sea risked their lives to protect. A World within a World, a civilization undoubtedly off-limits to us humans. Golden Pyramids flooded this colonized atmosphere. It was unbelievably beautiful, I must say, even in the presence of my own death. If only I had a few more moments.

Chapter 8

TYRANTS

“How beneficial to us leaders that the masses do not think.”

– A
DOLF
H
ITLER

“S
tated from the criminal mastermind himself, Elder Taurus capitalized on those who just wanted to exist instead of seeking wisdom for themselves.” The new Guide continued, “He’s responsible for the deaths of millions, and it wasn’t just by the use of a gun or detonation of an explosive device, despite those playing a major role. None of this was possible without his extraordinary gift of Mind Control. Yes, Hitler was an Elder Taurus. The gifts that each Zodiac represents vary from heir to heir, depending on which day they were born, and upon the Alignment of the Planets. Their heirs are unlikely to have the same gifts their Elders possessed, therefore making them unpredictable and dangerous.”

“Hmmm,” Natenal thought. Impressive. “Being unable to read these Zodiacs strengthens the chances of their survival.”

While the new Guide instructed Mosqidou, the Bookkeeper recorded the information in his infamous book,
The Eyewitness
, which noted the backbone of events leading up to the final days.

The Pursuers moved to another undisclosed location just beyond the bridge where the attack had taken place. They awaited the arrival of Pharisees, Abdeel and Abdeen. Timius and Shiloh lay in separate rooms recovering from their wounds.

“Tell me, was there ever a Taurus not plagued by evil? If so, how did his or her descendants turn so vile?” Simeon asked.

The Guide answered, “Good question. Before Hitler, yes, there was a Zodiac named Herod, and he was an honorable Zodiac. He did not live long enough to become an Elder. Lucifer made sure of that. It was too much of a risk for someone to become that powerful and not join Lucifer’s agenda. So, the Devils were not having it, and Herod had to be destroyed.

Herod died leaving no heirs, so his gifts were transferred to someone else during the Taurus Season. Lucifer somehow discovered who that was, and Adolf became the result.

Before his death, Herod tried to warn the other Zodiacs, but his own Pursuit had been a failure. During Herod’s reign, he did manage to eliminate many of the Devil’s mercenaries, and declared the existence of the Zodiacs and Lucifer’s agenda to Raphael himself. Herod was one of the Zodiacs responsible for this campaign you are accountable for. It was a shame to hear of his passing.”

Natenal said, “I too know of Herod and his great works. His end was unfortunate, but we will carry on where he left off and triumph over the enemy.”

Hours passed, and still no sign of Pharisees, Abdeel, or Abdeen. Ozias returned following his investigation. His presence caught everyone’s attention, and they all gathered in the large hall of the Safehouse.

Ozias shapeshifted out of his disguise and reported, “I have troubling news, my Brothers and Sisters. The building we witnessed our Brothers enter in pursuit of the sniper has been demolished. It has completely crumbled to its foundation. I searched time and time again for our Brethren only to find evidence of a battle, but no bodies in midst of the ruins.”

Simeon said, “This is beyond troubling news indeed.”

Goliath asked, “They have fallen?”

Ozias’s report had everyone talking.

Levi insisted, “Let’s calm down and try to stay focused. No bodies were discovered, so there is hope. God willing, they’ll make their return back here.”

Natenal added, “Levi is right. Let’s keep our hopes intact. Our Brothers will return.”

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

As Ruler of the Ninth House, you must trust your prophetic instincts in these coming days. May Jupiter continue to open more doors for you and grant you strength to crush your enemies
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The Mayor motioned for the visitor to enter. “Yes, yes, come on in Mr. Clarendon. Have a seat.”

He watched as his 7:00 sat down in one of the chairs opposite to him.

Sagittarius said, “Empty seats? I see that the Gemini are late.”