The Annunaki War

Animated

As the vimana transport settled into the town square,  Joshua jogged to meet it, excited to finally greet David in person. Yahwew had spoken of David, the great giant slayer who defeated one with nothing but a rock and slingshot, proudly, as a parent would speak of their dearest child. Joshua had recounted his tale, and many others, in the tome given first to Moses and then to himself. Moses had begun writing the tome in Acadian, taking dictation from Yahwew himself. Since the collapse of the Babel spaceport, however, he had switched to Hebrew and Aramaic(as had the rest of the rebels), and only recounted tales from the eyes of those who had witnessed them. Now Joshua stood, ready to bear witness to the culmination of the greatest campaign in human history - unification behind a single deity. As excited as he was, he found that Adoms' final words were stuck in the back of his mind. "He'll betray you. He can't deliver."  He was contemplating these words still, when David finally appeared in the doorway and scaled the hull of the ship, at last standing on the solid ground again. Joshua bowed politely as he approached.

"My friend, at last we meet. It is an honor, sir," Joshua said reverentially.

"Rise, Joshua," David ordered. "You have done well. Yahwews' throne has been secured, and his kingdom can now expand."

"Yahwew has spoken at length of your role in his kingdom," Joshua nodded. "He has had me write of your victories against the goliaths, and foretold of your conquests here, in the promised land."

"They are not my victories, but his," David corrected him. "I am merely the guide for his children, that they may find direction in the coming expansion."

"Yes, of course, my king." Joshua humbly agreed. He motioned over the entire city now. "The Hebrew people, delivered from slavery by Yahwew himself!" he announced. "They stand ready to do his bidding." 

"Excellent." David said. "Are they prepared to accept me as their earthy king, as Yahwew has decreed?"

"My lord, if it is the will of Yahwew, they will humbly follow you wherever you command. They will take up arms and strike at his enemies, that his word might be heard by all."

"Actually, I have that handled already," David admitted. "All that I need your people to do is multiply, and be fruitful, that the followers of Yahwew may spread around the globe."

"Do you not need an army, my lord?" Joshua was confused.

"Of course I do," David replied. "But I actually brought one with me." he depressed a button on a device he wore on his wrist, and the large rear end of the vimana began to open up, folding into a ramp leading to the ground.

What Joshua saw amazed even him. An entire legion of troops, all identically dressed, and identically stone-faced,  began filing out of the ship, reforming into a platoon on the ground, effortlessly and cohesively. "Meet Noah's children!" David boomed. "For they shall go forth and win us the Earth!"

"Impressive!' Joshua admitted, though he couldn't help but notice the blank, stone-faced stares on all of their faces. "I must say, though, they seem a little... off."

"What do you mean, off?" David wondered.

"They all just look confused. Have you done something to them? Drugged them in some way?"

"Well, the animation process was... complicated," David admitted. "I'm actually not entirely sure that it is complete. Yahwew said there would be side effects," he shrugged.

"What 'animation' process?" Joshua demanded. "Surely you're not claiming that these people have all been returned from death?"

"Nothing so morbid, no," David replied. "But to say that their lives have been normal would not be true either."

"Care to clarify that?" 

"Not really," David responded. "If you did not witness it, you will not understand. Suffice it to say that Yahwew possesses extraordinary powers, and the means to alter the natural course of events, that he set in motion so long ago."

"So he, what? Custom built an army for himself?"

"Indeed," David admitted. "Superior to average humans in every way, yet without the free will that so often dooms them. They are inherently loyal to him, and to me."

A look of shock and disturbance washed over Joshua's face as he began to process this information, and connect the dots. "Who are you?" he shouted. "Who is he? Free will is what makes a human a human! Without it, we are no better than beasts! The Yahwew I know understood this, cherished it even! I don't who you serve, but it is not the god of the Caananites!"

"Oh, dear." David shook his head and muttered to himself. "It appears I've said too much." He looked into Joshuas' eyes with sorrow and said "I am sorry, my friend. The will of Yahwew must be done." Without warning, he lashed out, driving his dagger through Joshuas' heart. "You have served him well in life, and will be afforded a place in the kingdom of heaven." 

Joshua peered up at David as his life drained away. "He'll betray you.He can't deliver."  Those words echoed in his mind now, and his last thought before dying was of Adom, and a crusade that he now, seconds before death, understood. 

David stood over Joshuas' lifeless body, saying a prayer for him. "Ensure that he receives a proper burial, in a place of honor," he ordered. Before he was taken away, David removed his knapsack and took possession of the scriptures, that he might carry on with Joshuas' work. As he walked towards his new palace, he looked skyward as he thought, "It is done, my lord."