Chapter 8

The Order of Zoot

"Lani, I have to do it. I have to go."

"But-"

"It's not just about Bray and Trudy. It's about my daughter too. You heard Jaffa, he's a damn nutcase. I can't allow someone like him to be responsible for her. Any day, I don't know, a bird takes a shit on his robe, a fork falls from his table, he will decide it's an omen and will order to kill her."

"I understand, but I just-"

"Hell, it's about our baby too. You can't have it here, we'll have to go to the city. And I'm not letting you go there if it's being run by a looney. So babe, I'll have to go and sort things out myself. And don't worry about me. They think I'm a god over there so I guess I'll be fine."

He managed to squeeze out a smile. Leilani looked in Martin's eyes and took his hands in her's.

"I understand. I just want to go with you."

"No."

"Martin -"

"No. Once again - no. N-O. It's too dangerous for you."

"But The Guardian called me the new Supreme Mother. They worship the Supreme Mother too, not so?" argued the girl. "They won't dare to harm me."

Martin shook his head, "They don't know what you look like. Or you're planning to walk around with a sign "I'm the Supreme Mother?" If you come to the city with me and somehow we become devided, that's it. Besides, as I said, Jaffa is crazy. I don't expect any trouble but you don't know what will strike him the next second. He may order his guys to fight. Lani, I can't risk it. You're staying here."

"Trudy is going to be killed because of me!" Leilani said sternly. "Do you want this to rest on my consciousness forever? And on yours too? You hear me? Your baby's mother is going to die because of me!"

Martin gave her a long stare and then suddenly pulled Leilani close to him, pressing her cheek into his chest in a strong yet gentle embrace.

"And I don't want my baby's mother to die because of ME," she heard him whisper. "That is why I want you to stay.If anything happens to you and..." and he placed a hand on Leilani's stomach. Leilani didn't say anything, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around Martin's neck. For a while they stood in silence.

"Don't worry," he said finally, still hugging the girl. "It will be okay. No one's going to die. I'll fix this mess and will be back by tomorrow."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Looking down at Leilani's smiling face Martin lightly kissed her eyes.

"I swear, I will be back."

He left minutes later, still tasting the salty tears on his lips.

Promise?

Do you promise?

Leilani's words still sounded in his ears as Martin walked through the darkness. The street was narrow and dirty, wooden containers and cardboard boxes piled against the warehouses' walls. The wind toyed lazily with leaves,styrofoam cups, pieces of torn posters (" ...oot be prai..." one of them read ) and other trash, whirling it about on the ground. It was two in the morning.

He did not know where the warehouse he was looking for was located, but Martin guessed it wouldn't be nessessary. No need to look for the Chosen - they would find him.

And find him they did. About a dozen of tall, bulky figures each holding a halberd have seemingly just materialized from the thin air, lining from one side of the street to another. Sharp blades, glimmering in the moonlight, were all pointing at Martin's chest.

"Freeze!"

The voice was coming from somewhere above his head; looking up Martin saw a line of archers, all robed and hooded, standing on the roof of the wareshouse. He stopped, folding his hands on his chest.

"Where are the others, heathen?" demanded one of the Chosen standing in front of him. He stepped forwards and Martin saw a hockey hemlet, and a pair of football shoulder pads worn over a bullet-proof vest, all blue. The Praetorian Guard.

"I have not come for you," quietly and calmly said Martin, taking a step forward himself so that he and the Chosen were nose to nose. "My wrath is on The Guardian. Obey my orders and you will live"

There was silence for a few seconds. Then, with a muffed groan, the guard threw the halberd down and fell to his kness.

"The Great One! You are here!" he shouted. "Kneel before Zoot! All kneel before Zoot!"

With a thud, the rest of the Chosen fell down, bowing before Martin.

"Order us, our lord," breathed out the captain of the Praetorians. "We will die for you."

"There is no need for you to. I want all of your men here. Now."

In less than three minutes about a hundred of Chosen warriors and the Praetorians, previously hidden in nearby warehouses, were huddling on the narrow street, their eyes on Martin. He cleared his throat.

"I was forced to leave the hereafter and to disturb the balance between the worlds because of the fool who calls himself The Guardian. The fool who went against my will and dared to defy me, the god of Power and Chaos. He is blinded by pride and lust for power. Through brother Troy and sister Sarah I have passed an order, clearly telling the Chosen to stop the hunt after by brother and to leave the city. Are you aware of that?"

"Yes, our lord... yes... yes... we are, oh Mighty One..." came the chorus of terrified, whispering voices.

"The Guardian chose to disobey me, his master. Not only that, he plans to kill the mother of the Devine Child. For that, I am going to bring him down and no later than by three in the afternoon he himself will be dead. And so will be everyone who is with him. So if you wish to live, return to where he brought you from. Leave the city now."

"May we... may we come with you and fight? We want to serve you my lord and punish he who went against your will." said the captain.

"There is no need for it. Be blessed, my loyal servants. Go and may Power and Chaos be with you."

"Hail our lord!" shouted the guard and threw his fist up. "Zoot be praised!"

"And to his Chosen, victory!" came a thunderous response as a hundred fists flew into the air.

At about four in the morning the warehouse's gates flew open. A group of teenagers, most of them in green Eco clothes and feathers in their hair, armed with spears, clubs and bows, but also a number of Locos in their hemlets and coveralls with nightsticks and guns in their hands, burst in and stopped in confusion. The place was empty, dark and quiet, piles of boxes with ammunition mounting up in lines. There was no sign of the Chosen guards.

"The fuck is going on?" someone muttered. "Where are the guards? Bray, what the fuck is this?"

"Lex, be quiet," hissed Bray. "This can be a trap."

"No traps," interfered the third rebel, a tall black-haired Eco with a green leaf painted around his eye. "My guys have checked the area before we moved in. Everything's clear."

"I don't know then Pride," Lex shook his head, looking around. "It doesn't look right to me. Maybe..."

Pride, howerver, wasn't listening. In a blink of an eye he spun around, whipping out a short knife and freezing ready to throw it.

"There is someone there in the corner. Come out with your hands up and you won't be hurt!"

In the shadows, Martin chuckled and stepped forward.

"Well hello big brother," he said, smiling to stunned Bray.