The Annunaki War

Jerusalem

Jerusalem was, by standards of the day, a massive settlement. The market square, religious temples, and the palace were all elegantly appointed, with gold inlays throughout. The city itself was, while not as heavily fortified as Jericho, home to some of the most tenacious warriors in the old world. Though it had eventually fallen, the Jews had suffered heavy casualties before it did. Now, the market square housed a large medical tent, and the Hebrew wounded were being cared for by those with the knowledge to do so. (Admittedly, medical training had been subpar while wandering through the desert.) It was for this reason that Mikal had shown some leniency in the "convert or die" policy, so that the Jewish physicians would not be killed. At least, not yet. 

Inside the palace atrium stood a great statue of a random deity, arms outstretched, seemingly to welcome visitors. Mikal, of course, ordered the statue to be pulled down and replaced with a massive replica of the ten commandments, delivered to Moses so long ago by Yahwew himself. In addition, she ordered that any other pagan monuments be destroyed also. Anything that would remind the people here of their former religion had to go. She made her patrols, accompanied be her personal contingent of security, in an effort to explore the palace's massive subterranean dungeons and tunnel network. Any criminals still locked up were executed immediately, without question or mercy.

It was as she was exploring the lowest reaches that she noticed what appeared to be light streaming though what was thought to be a solid concrete wall. The light formed a square, leading Mikal and her officers to suspect that this wall hid something that was not to be found. She ran her fingers over the cracks in the wall and ordered "Take this wall down. Retrieve the sledgehammers. Go." Two of her four guards bowed, then left to retrieve them. What could be so important, she wondered, that it was hidden in a secret room underneath the palace? She had to find out.

"What of the other mission?" She asked her remaining guards. "Has my husband been found?"

"Still no word, m'lady," the senior officer replied. "My men are scouring the fields for him now. It will only be a matter of time."

"I'm sure he is fine," she reassured herself. "He is under the protection of Yahwew, after all."

Soldiers wielding sledgehammers, a whole platoon of them, in fact, made their way into the room and lined up along the wall, ready to strike. "Take it down," Mikal ordered. Without a word, the soldiers began striking the wall, slowly weakening it until it started to crumble. Just as a hole big enough to actually see through was beginning to form, the leader of the search party burst in the room, exhausted from a long run. He held his side as he wheezed.

"M'lady, we've found him! We've found your husband, our king!"

"Is he alive?" 

"He is, m'lady. He is weak and disoriented, but he lives."

"Take me to him at once!" She scanned the crumbling false-wall. "I want this wall gone by the time I come back." Without another word, she turned and followed the search officer up to the medical tent.

Inside the tent, David was easy to find, because he had a cluster of people circled around him, all trying to get a glimpse of this fallen Nephlim. When Mikal entered, however, they instinctively formed an opening, so that she might get in to speak to him. She gazed upon him in shock. He lay there, covered in dirt, which was not unusual, but he also appeared weak and lifeless, which she had never seen before. He had  always been so full of vitality, his alien DNA elevating him above his flock. Now, she dared say, he looked .... human. He grasped her hand weakly and smiled. "Mikal, my love. It is so good to be with you again."

"What happened to you, love?"

"Satan has interfered with Yahwew's plan," he croaked weakly. "I could not stop him. He drained me of my strength and left me for dead."

"Who is this' Satan'?" Mikal demanded. "Who could've done this to you?"

"I know not his name," David admitted. "Yahwew called him 'adversary.' He was a being of another realm. To human eyes, he appears to be made of pure light. He... took... our lord. I know not where, or how to get him back."

"Will my love live?" she asked the attending physician.

"His vital signs appear normal. Whatever happened to him, it seems to be temporary. He should regain his strength in time."

"Leave us." David ordered his doctor away. "Don't go far." The doctor nodded and left to care for others. David gazed lovingly at Mikal. "It's up to us now. We must honor Yahwew's wishes, and finish what he started."

"But how?" Mikal asked. "To carry on God's will without his assistance... doesn't seem possible."

"He has given us everything we need to make sure that all his work is not in vain. We have a holy book of teachings, a sustained presence on the ground, and eye-witnesses to his deeds. Our case is strong. All we need are good soldiers and politicians to ensure the word..."

The man in charge of the sledgehammer regiment burst into the tent, helmet in hand. "M'lady, forgive me, but you need to see this! Right now!"

Mikal smiled at David and let go of his hand, obliging the soldier. "Wait. I'm coming, too." David said as he slowly began to stand. "This is my crusade; I want to be present for it." He leaned on Mikal as they were both led back to the underground tunnels. 

A they entered the room with the false-wall, both of their eyes widened at the cavernous space revealed behind it. "Well..." David admitted, "This will certainly help..."