Post by The BombTrax on Jun 23, 2016 3:52:21 GMT
Near the Nahal Ksalon River
Between Kirjath-jearim and Zion – Israel, 992 B.C.
The hot sun beat down upon the procession of men, oxen, and carts moving across the border of Kirjath-Jearim, fast approaching the Nahal Ksalon River, where they would need to cross before entering the region of Zion. They would camp at the base of the mountain, and provide burnt sacrifices in honor to the Lord for his return of the Ark of the Covenant to King David from Obed-edom, who in turn had received the precious heirloom from the Philistines.
The bastard whore-son’s had taken the Ark after slaughtering thirty thousand Hebrew soldiers in their tents, and had brought it to their false god’s in Ashdod. They had placed it inside the temple of Dagon, only to return the next morning to find the likeness of Dagon without a head or hands, and the Ark sitting unscathed in a nook above the idol. From there, the Philistines moved the Ark from city to city, yet only plague followed wherever it was placed. Finally, terrified of what they had wrought upon themselves, the Philistines decided to remove the Ark. They placed the Holy Seat upon a cart made of their design, and hooked a cow to its front to carry the load.
These faithless dogs left the destination of the Ark up to chance, believing the cow would never abandon her young, and testing the power of the God of Israel. If only the Levites could have seen their faces when the cow left it’s offspring in the field, and traveled upon an easy path through the mountains straight back into Judah. A company of Philistine guards followed the cart to return word back to their masters, but upon leaving it, the cow made its way straight to Kirjath-jearim, and into the hands of Obed-edom, who had heard of the foolishness of the Philistines.
Now the Ark sat upon the same cart, this time pulled by a team of oxen, leading the band of a hundred home to Jerusalem, where King David was preparing to build a grand temple to display God’s glory, with the Ark as its centerpiece. It was to be a crowning achievement for the young king, one that would allow for him to consolidate all of Judea and Israel, and fortify his position across the realms.
Obed-edom had questioned David if it were wise to trust a Philistine cart to transport the Ark of the Covenant, but King David had seen no reason why it shouldn’t, considering it had already traveled hundreds of miles to reach Kirjath-jearim that way. The young king had dismissed the old Levite’s questions, knowing that there had been an outline for a proper way to carry the Ark, but their destination wasn’t but a few days march, and he didn’t see the harm. Once back in Jerusalem, he assured the Levite, the Ark would have a place of rest more grand than the throne room of the palace.
Twelve Levites surrounded the cart, five on one side, and five on the other, two in the front to lead the oxen. They sang a litany of prayers as they marched, honored that they be here upon the trek that would bring the Holy Relic home.
David came directly behind the cart upon horseback, flanked on all sides by twelve of his most trusted honor guard, one of which was Uzzah, who had been with him in the days before he was king. Uzzah was one of the young men who had pledged themselves to David in the days of King Saul, when ‘The Mad King’ had chased David out of Jerusalem. Only one other was held in as high a favor to the king, and that was Jonathan, Saul’s own son.
Behind them, seventy-five Hebrew warriors marched in unison, singing their own songs, and passing wineskins amongst their company. This was a special day indeed, and none feared any real reprisal considering they were there more for show than anything else. After all, this procession was passing through the heart of Israel, and no one would dare to try an attack here without them already having received word of it. Even if they did, what harm could befall the carriers of the sacred Ark.
David looked out ahead of the cart to see the Nahal Ksalon getting closer, and the fertile ground that surrounded the river began to spring up around them with soft grass beneath their horses’ hooves. Uzzah found the fresh grass to his liking, and swung down from his horse to walk beside his steed, allowing his boots to enjoy the soft ground before them.
They only had a few more tracts to go before reaching the river, when the front right wheel of the cart buckled hard into a series of roots in the ground. Rather than bouncing over the roots, the wheel held fast, while the oxen dumbly continued their march. The cart began to lift in the air, and all of the men behind gave out loud curses and surprised yelps.
One of the twine straps that had been used to support the Ark snapped, followed by another, and another. As the Levites got the Oxen under control, the cart suddenly came crashing back down to the earth, causing the right side to tip as the wheels sunk into the ground. The Ark, jostled without all of its supports, slid to the overturned edge, and made to go over the side. The Levites called out in shock and surprise, and moved to stabilize the cart, while Uzzah, still on foot, rushed in to help them.
David watched from his horse as if everything were in slow motion, and a twinge of fear and awe crept up his spine as if a ghost had just found a cluster of nerves, and plucked each one. He called out to Uzzah, whose hand shot out, arm fully extended, and his feet propelling him forward as fast as they could. Uzzah heard that call at the last minute, turning back to look at David in confusion just as his hand came to rest upon the golden edifice of the Ark.
A great flash of light sprang forth from the cart, blinding all of the men out in the grassland. Some of the horses, spooked by the sudden cries and the glaring light, threw their riders from their saddles to land on the soft grass below. The Levites made with hastened prayers, and as David’s eyes readjusted, he stared out at the cart to see what just happened.
His eyes scanned the scene, taking in the Levites helping the Ark of the Coevenant down to the ground, their order the only priests who could physically touch the Holy Relic. The men that had been thrown from their horses were no worse for wear, and were already chastising their mounts, and preparing to get underway.
David saw all of this, but his heart was still in his throat, and tears filled his eyes, when he finally asked, “Where is Uzzah?” (translated from Hebrew)
Everyone stopped their work, and the lead Levite priest made to step away from the Ark and towards his king. “M’Lord, certainly you know the penalty for the unsanctified touching the Ark of the Covenant. Tis not permitted, by order of the Most High, our Lord, God.”
David came out of his saddle, and rushed at the man before any of his guards could realize what was going on. He clutched at the priests shoulders, pushing him up against the cart, wild eyes searching the older man’s face. “What happened to Uzzah?” He yelled persistently, agitation lacing his voice.
The priest stared at the king, and made no move to struggle, while at the same time keeping a stern face about him that befitted his station. “He is perished, sire.”
Tears were already rushing down the young king’s face before the priest had spoken, and he turned him loose, burying his sobs into the older man’s chest. He dropped to his knees, and immediately fell into prayers and lamentations, a cyclone of emotions filling his heart. Anger, grief, guilt, shame. They were all becoming familiar to him despite his youth, and it was certain that he would come to know them even more so now that he was King of Israel.
After a few moments, David stood, wiping the tears from his eyes, and looking out at the men who all awaited his direction. He sighed, and nodded his reassurances to them that he had not gone mad. “Men, tear this cart apart and create a raft for the Ark to cross the river. Levites, you are tasked with the Ark. You will carry it on foot by the shittim-wood staves, as was handed down by Moses in the Ark’s construction. You three riders, move ahead to Jerusalem, and tell them what has happened here today. Provide liniment and comforts for Uzzah’s family, and assure them I will pray with them in the temple when I arrive.”
David paused, looking up from the spot where Uzzah ceased to be, and saw for the first time everyone just staring at him. His face grew stern, and his shoulders squared to that of a kings. “Now, GO!”
All darted off in different directions to do the tasks that had been handed down to them. David returned to his horse, patting the steed on the neck, and resting his forehead upon the bridle. This had started out a glorious day, but had turned to tragedy, and all because of his own arrogance and disobedience. He knew that he was supposed to have the answers because of the station that had been given him by the Lord, but there were some things that even he didn’t understand. He wondered to himself, in that moment, would the rest of his reign be as fraught with peril?
Near the Nahal Ksalon River
Beit Nekofa, Israel, Present Day
Joshua Tsabo stood on the riverbank of the Nahal Ksalon river just on the outskirts of the village of Beit Nekofa. There was a dirt road to the North of his current position where he had left his jeep, and his security detail. He didn’t feel the need for all of that right now, as he stared out across the field of grass. Zion loomed off in the distance to the east, and he could hear the light buzzing of vehicles on the Hemed Interchange, otherwise known as Highway 1, to the south.
Back in the time of King David this had all been rolling grassland hills that nestled themselves between the two lone mountains that made up Zion and Kirjath-jearim. Both locales were now tourist attractions for those who made pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with Beit Nekofa standing as a small village between the two in order to resupply the wayward travelers. Before that time both locations had served as two separate places, but now everything in the vicinity of the Holy City was a district of Jerusalem. It was the Israeli’s way of trying to consolidate security under a still very real threat provided by palastine.
He probably looked a sight to anyone traveling out here on horseback or camel, as was a preferred method of travel to this day by the indigenous people tending field. He and his retinue had passed a few said farmers and sheep herders on his way out here, and they had balked at the Jeep as it kicked up dust all around them.
The suit he wore was from Paris, a tan color in nature, with gold buttons. The shirt beneath was black cotton, and his tie was a light brown silk. All of this was partially covered by a light grey travel cloak that hung loose around his shoulders, held only by the two golden clasps that connected by a chain. His boots were Italian leather, though a bit muddy considering where he was, and he wore a black driving glove on his left hand.
Despite the fancy dress, the one glove set him apart as odd, and many subordinates imagined it hid some form of deformity. The truth was, the hand was in working order, only that it had been turned to granite all the way up to the elbow in a spell that had gone awry.
Much of his life after that fateful night at the Storm Estate, so many years ago, had gone awry. The Left Hand, an ancient organization set about bringing forth the prophecy laid out in The New Testament’s Revelations, was supposed to win that night. They were supposed to take the vessel, a direct descendant of Jesus Christ, and prepare him for his ascension as the Anti-Christ.
Many people believed that the Anti-Christ was a product of the devil, but in reality, was a plan set apart to see things through in Revelations. The texts made clear that once the vessel was prepared, then an angel would take possession of the body, and from there sound the seven trumpets that would break the seven seals, and plunge the plan of Revelations forwards. It even made sense that the vessel had to be a direct descendant of Jesus Christ’s, as only one from his bloodline could survive direct contact with an angelic being. Once the first seal was broken, there was no way of stopping it, and the apocalypse would confiscate the earth for a period of seven years, ending once the Messiah had created his new kingdom on earth, otherwise known as heaven.
The Left Hand had devised the name of the Angel responsible for becoming the Anti-Christ, and had even called upon his aide in their quest. They found Redemption more than willing to assist, considering the corner of the universe that he was to reign over till his time came was Purgatory. Much like the Catholic version, Purgatory was the between place of Heaven and Hell, a stopover for all souls. It looked just like our world, but painted only in monochrome colors, and was a virtual prison for one who had been touched by the sun.
Redemption’s main job, however, was to sustain The Beast, one of the deadliest of the seven seals. It was said when the time came, that those who had been cast as the most wicked would once again bare the mark of Cain, the insignia of 666, and that The Beast would devour their souls, and they would no longer have a choosing of Heaven and Hell. This had become too daunting a task for The Arch Angel, as he had been performing it since the birth of man.
Redemption had even gone out on his own in search of the Anti-Christ, chasing down Johnny Storm on back when 'Mr. Fantastic' was a member of the Survival Wrestling Alliance. Storm, not without his own considerable resources, had managed to foul up Redemption’s plans, but not before providing him with a new retinue of servants in The BombTrax.
The BombTrax, after their time with Redemption in Purgatory, had gained special powers from the most High. Press was augmented with super strength and invulnerability against kinetic objects, while Youth was given the gift of speed, moving at nearly eight times the speed of the average human. Their consort, Tammy, had been physically altered into what could only be described as a cross between woman and wolf, and her bite would cause the truth to flow from someone’s lips.
It was the BombTrax that Redemption had sent to help The Left Hand, turning them onto Johnny Storm as the vessel, and sending additional Intel as it became available. They soon found that Storm was not without his own allies, The Legacy, another organization as old as The Left Hand, but whose mission was to give humanity a chance, and to thwart the plans of anyone who would seek an expedient result in God’s plan.
The two factions had done battle many times over the centuries, and had become bitter enemies, so it was no surprise that they would try and intervene upon the Left Hand’s actions. Several operations on both sides were seen through, some ending in defeat, others in victory, and sometimes even in stalemate.
Everything finally built to a head one fateful night in December of 2001, when The Left Hand infiltrated The Storm Estate in an attempt to take Johnny Storm. The Legacy had gained knowledge of the attack through a traitor they had planted within the organization, and when The Left Hand arrived, they found a force waiting for them.
In the end they lost. Eric Rayne, of The Legacy, killed the clone of Johnny Storm that they had planned on using to act in his stead once the real Storm had been possessed by Redemption. Scarlett Rayne killed Leslie Peterson, gaining some measure of revenge for her friend Margo, who had died in an earlier conflict. Derek Rayne killed The Left Hand’s leader, Doctor Montolove, an end to a rivalry that had gone on for ages.
Redemption had temporarily taken control of the body of Dermot Winterdawn, Johnny Storm’s cousin, but it would only last for a few days. The plan had been to use Dermot to get to Storm, but with the plan falling apart around them, Dermot was able to get control of himself just long enough to take his own life, effectively sending the Arch-Angel back to his prison in Purgatory.
Joshua Tsabo and Andrew Kensing, the Left Hand’s chief of security, were the only ones to make it out of the house alive. All of their fodder had been expended by The Storm Corp. Special Forces Units, and the houses internal security. Press and Youth were freed from Redemption, and it was later found out that they were the ones who had been supplying The Legacy with information.
After that, with The Left Hand in shambles, everyone else went on with their lives. Scarlett Rayne turned up pregnant with Storm’s child, and it was rumored that Redemption made one last attempt at the new heir’s birth to take his claim upon the world. In the end, the power of prayer endured, and Redemption was banished back to Purgatory for good, never being allowed to take part in any of man’s designs on pain of celestial execution. Unfortunately, the child died, driving a wedge between Storm and Scarlett that never reconciled.
Derek Rayne, and his son, Eric, returned to Las Vegas where the younger of the two had stake in a casino, and continued their work quietly within The Legacy.
Press and Youth were human once again, their powers from the celestial having fled them. Press’ lover, Tammy, chose to remain with Redemption despite the fact, thus retaining her changed form. This sent Press into a deep depression, one in which he’s never fully recovered, while Youth continues to hold the group together by sheer force of will. The two did eventually reconcile their feelings about Tammy, when they were given another Mission from on high to pay penance for the parts they played in Redemption’s scheme.
Tsabo and Kensing took aliases, and used The Left Hand’s considerable revenue streams to fade into obscurity where they could quietly rebuild. It had taken years of careful recruitment to put together the team that he had now, and the investments they had made helped to make certain they could continue to grow. The plan was as it always had been. Humanity had been on this rock for too long, destroying the essence of life that was meant to be precious with their decadent lifestyles and their ever expanding population.
Humanity was created to be the children of God, but instead had proven time and time again that they were a cancer to all that they touched. The only way for this to be remedied, to be set right, was for everything to be washed away and made anew. God had done so before with The Great Flood, vowing never to take such a drastic measure, but ensuring that there was a plan for it to come to pass again if given just the slightest nudge from the faithful.
The Left Hand were that faithful, and Joshua Tsabo was bound and determined to do what his mentor had failed to do. This time, there would be no mistakes.
The sound of footfalls came from behind him, and he tensed, despite recognizing the perfume that permeated the slight breeze that pushed past him. A soft hand touched his shoulder, and he eased a bit, now having confirmation that he had nothing to fear. It was only his bride to be.
“Joshua, why are we here? You know that our destiny lies in New Orleans.” She softly spoke into his ear, her hot breath sending a shiver down his spine.
Tsabo smirked, knowing that she was as eager as he was to set this plan into motion, if not more so. They only needed one more key to the puzzle, and the Babylonian map would be complete. If they followed it to the letter, they would find a prize that would bring the world to its knees.
Tsabo smiled, looking over his shoulder at the petite, but firm, object of his desire. “Imagine it, my love. Somewhere close by, The Ark of the Covenant took an unclean man’s life just for touching it. I thought it important to take stock in that fact, considering it is that very same Ark that is going to drive the unclean from this land once more. Don’t you agree…” He paused, a triumphant grin spreading across his face, “Scarlett?”
Scarlett Rayne returned the grin with one of her own before reaching down and taking Joshua by his gloved hand. “Indubitably, my betrothed. Indubitably.”
The two turned back, hand in hand, to the rolling hills set out before them. Soon they would be back stateside, paying a visit to New Orleans. Soon they would have that final piece of the puzzle that would make things clear to all. Soon, they would have judgement day....
TO BE CONTINUED…..
