Concept date: 24th February, 2017
First published: 9th June, 2017
Status: COMPLETED.
Version: STANDARD.
Age Recommendation: 15+
Average Reading Time: Approximately 30 Minutes.
Revisions: 3. [Last Edit: March 2019]
Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 69BC -0AH Mission: 035892 - 2 - 3470
Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 69BC -0AH Mission: 035892 - 2 - 3470
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| "MARCUS COLLA AND THE FIGHTING DEAD." |
MISSION SUMMARY: "A condemned man escapes death in the arena and Mr. Tibbs is on the case because he should have died! - Marcus Colla is now a Gladiator at Senator Agenn's Ludus [Gladiator Training School] and has caught the eye of Lady Livia Drusilla Agenn and this can have consequences for Humanity. Jericho is tasked with restoring the current time-line by any means possible and that involves a trip back to Ancient Rome!"
NOTES: This episode contains strong language and horror with very strong sexual references.
"This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental." The Author.
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| 30 Min. |
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| Book Series 3. |
"MARCUS COLLA AND THE FIGHTING DEAD."
1. THE ARENA.
They dragged him across the rough floor of sand and brick, pulling the chains
that encircled his arms; Marcus Colla staggered and almost fell. “Come on you
fucker! You can’t keep the audience waiting.” The Guard laughed and kicked
Marcus up the arse, whilst the other tugged upon the chains and pulled Marcus
towards the rusted Iron Gate which had splashes of fresh wet blood and little
pieces of human skin – torn from the dead bodies as they were dragged past it
from the Arena to the Spollarium.
The Legionnaire on the gate rose from his crude little stool and took hold of his javelin, spitting pieces of goat fat from his teeth; the guard knew he would regret eating that old goat, but that was all the cookhouse was dishing up today. He should have stuck to bread and onions; he picked his teeth with a dirty finger and eyed the condemned man with little interest until he saw the tattoo on his right shoulder.
“What, another fucking son of a whore from the bloody 8th what did you do to get this – fuck your Tribunes daughter?” He smiled, showing gaped and yellowed teeth. The prisoner, who was being stripped of his chains, turned his head slowly and stared at the man, his piercing blue eyes bright with anger; but said nothing.
The fat guard pulled the chains from Marcus’s ankles leaving blooded red marks about each and shouted to the Legionnaire; “This fuck head was found with his Centurions wife!” The Gate guard laughed out loud and with some effort, pulled the gate half open saying to Marcus; “Hope she was worth the fuck you dim shit!” The fat guard took hold of Marcus by the shoulders and threw him through the gate; “See you in Hades; you piece of shit!”
Marcus staggered out into the sunshine and wiped sweat and blood from his eyes and face. The crowd was sparse and seemed uninterested in the latest entertainment offered. Marcus could see the floor of the little Arena was churned up with puddles of blood and several human limbs lay scattered around. An old man appeared from behind the gateway and threw a gladius onto the sand by his feet, shouting; ”May the God’s be with you!”
Across the arena another metal door was pulled back and some of the crowd started cheering. Marcus scooped up the sword and nodded his thanks to the old man who disappeared into the darkness of the Spollarium.
2. DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON.
Marcus gripped the sword tightly; after washing his hands in the warm sand to
clean the blood and sweat from them. After eight years in the legions, this
shithole was his reward. He thought about Titus Caelinus; the Centurion who had
condemned him to the arena for bedding his wife Octavia and deeply regretted
not killing him when he had the opportunity. He watched carefully as the two
figures emerged from the shadows to shouts of encouragement from part of the
crowd – the remainder appeared indifferent to the fate of Marcus Colla.
One, a big man who appeared to move slowly, was a Retiarius and Marcus knew he must avoid the net throws or be killed like a wild boar in a rope trap. The other was a Murmillo; Marcus also knew that he would have to get behind the large rectangular shield to inflict damage upon the Gladiator.
The pair lifted sword and Trident above their heads and saluted the crowd, whilst Marcus pissed into the sand and shook his cock at them shouting; “Fuck you!” A ripple of laughter swept the audience; arena crowds always had the habit of supporting their hero’s or occasionally, an underdog that took their fancy by outrageous behaviour in the ring.
Marcus couldn’t see the young woman standing by the metal door, but then neither could anyone else. Neerja Naidu loosened her sari and flicked open her Soul Ledger; on the page was several names including ‘Marcus Colla’ with a little note saying: ’Suburra Arena.’ She also noticed two other names for the same arena and same time – they must kill each other she speculated and pulled her mirror from her sari and nodded with satisfaction – three deaths and three souls to collect.
That’s when Neerja saw the thin dark man standing by the arena wall; he was wearing a light blue suit and stood, arms folded, watching Marcus’s fight for life unfolding in the hot sunshine. She also knew he was not human – well, not any more. He lifted his arm and gave Neerja a small wave in greeting. She waved back, giving a little smile and wondered why a ‘Dispatcher’ would attend such an insignificant dispatch in person.
The young man walked around the fight and stood next to Neerja, showing his mirror as badge of office and said quietly; “Latest idea from ‘old man death’ – quality control visits!” He explained that Arch-Angel Abraham had ordered Senior Dispatchers to attend randomly selected Dispatches [Deaths] for quality control purposes!
Neerja laughed outright, and then noticed that she had a soul to collect.
Marcus, despite bleeding from a cut to his shoulder had killed the Murmillo and now the crowd was interested – he also had gained a better sword and now a shield. The Retiarius was twirling the weighed net above his head and approaching Marcus, trident at the ready. Marcus crouched behind the newly acquired shield and awaited the attack, spinning the sword in his right hand; checking its balance – it felt good.
The dead Gladiator stood next to Neerja and watched without emotion as the fight to the death continued. “Didn’t think he would do that; slide across the sand and come up under my fucking shield – the bastard gutted me like a fish!” He said to her and sighed, staring at his dead body which had a bloody pile of intestines lying to one side; “Like a fucking fish!” He repeated, shaking his head in a mixture of sadness and surprise. “The fucking crowd loved that.” He added and actually laughed gently to himself.
The Dispatcher watched with some interest as the battle continued; ”That one knows how to kill [pointing to Marcus] and the crowd is getting behind him.” Neerja nodded her agreement and the late Gladiator could only concur with that observation.
Suddenly the crowd was on their feet shouting and screaming; Marcus had slipped the net throw and was taunting the big man as he swung his trident wildly. As Marcus closed down the Retiarius, the Gladiator seemed to stagger and his free hand gripped his chest, dipping the trident towards the sand. Marcus leapt forward and pushed his sword through the falling mans throat without hesitation, causing a large spurt of blood which sprayed into the air.
The crowd was roaring its approval as the Collector was joined by another soul who was cursing loudly and shaking his head; ”I fucking had him; what the fuck happened?”
3. AN UNEXPECTED RESULT.
Marcus was now standing alone on the bloodied sand; sword held aloft, accepting
the cheers of the crowd – the Collector and Dispatcher exchanged concerned
glances and watched as several Legionnaires approached Marcus with javelins at
the ready. “He’s a condemned man; the guards will finish him off.” The
Dispatcher spoke quietly to Neerja and she nodded; then all faces turned to the
Games Editor who rose from his chair and lifted his arm high, showing a closed
fist.
Senator Brutus Agenn could hear the crowd chanting for Marcus; “AUCTOR MORTIS!” The crowd had given him a Gladiators name; ’Giver of Death.’ To the crowd, Marcus deserved life for the entertainment he had provided on this hot afternoon.
The Senator smiled and raised his thumb high up - Marcus had achieved life.
The surprised Collector consulted her Soul Ledger and saw Marcus had vanished from the page. The Dispatcher shook his head and looked quite anxious; “He is still showing on my Dispatch list – what the hell has gone wrong?” He spoke quietly to Neerja and returned to his office in an instance; to report this unexpected turn of events.
Neerja closed her little black book and watched as Marcus was walked back into the dark interior by the guards; still very much alive. She returned to the Collections Office with the two new souls and reported the incident to her Supervisor, who received the news with a grim expression because the Dispatch Department had already contacted him for an explanation.
The pair walked down the bright corridor and stopped outside a door; the door plate said simply: ‘Duty Death Angel’. They knocked and entered when Angel Margret called them in.
Mr. Tibbs was informed of his new mission some time later and the team gathered in his study, served drinks and coffee by Mr. Harris. Jericho stood by the blazing fire and outlined his plan; He and Alex would be disguised as wealthy Roman's, seeking to purchase gladiators and would buy Marcus at a price his new master simply could not refuse - then they would place Marcus back in the local Arena against quite impossible odds - he would be killed, as he should have been earlier - and the current time line would be secure.
Alex was very unhappy at the thought of allowing a man to be brutally killed in the arena, but she knew the changes that could be created by his survival, would cause havoc further down the line and offer even greater danger to the future.
Wilson actually loved the idea of dressing up as the couples personal guard, he whispered to Owen; "As long as I can have a bloody big sword and handsome breastplate, I'll be happy." Owen grinned and added; "Don't forget a magnificent big fuck off helmet!" The pair laughed until they saw the disapproving look upon Alex's face. They both shrugged their shoulders and grinned.
Owen was also happy with his part; as the couple's travelling Steward he got to carry the money and order other servants about!
Jericho also stated that Angel Margret had released several men from the era, who were currently in quarantine, to serve as Imperial troops which would certainly add some clout to their mission and greatly help the deception. The men had agreed readily; it was a chance to live again as they did before, then they would be passing into a new time and new lives.
As the little group headed for the light room, Alex consulted her mirror and spoke directly to Jericho; "It appears that our man is already receiving favours from the wife of his new Master and she appears to be quite insatiable, that could mean trouble." Wilson grinned broadly; "Well, at least he'll die with a bloody big smile upon his face!"
Jericho agreed with Alex's words; "The wife is not a problem, for the era she is already past the age where she could conceive, but he could be given young slave girls as a reward for killing in the arena and if one of those girls produce a child that should not have existed, we could be in serious trouble."
Alex nodded her agreement at that and they passed into the light and returned to the Roman Empire at the height of its power and excess. On the dirt road just outside the small city of Suburra, the convey of wagons and troops gathered together, then headed for the villa of Senator Brutus Agenn.
4. THE LUDUS.
Marcus Colla sat in his cell and touched the stiches of his wounded shoulder
with some tenderness; the attending Medici [surgeon] clearly knew his stuff.
The so called ‘doctors’ attached to his old Legion
couldn’t sew up a chickens arse for boiling!
His mind went over the afternoon’s events and he stretched out upon the plain wooden pallet that served as his bed. He had killed two young men in the arena; hacking the head off one and ripping open the guts on the other – but not before that bastard, dying Gaul had nicked him with his spear.
But his Master; Senator Brutus Agenn had been well pleased with Marcus and rewarded him with wine and fresh meat for dinner; Marcus had been at the Agenn Ludus for Gladiators for some weeks now and had already killed three opponents in the arena. He knew that his next performance – if he survived – would be rewarded with a woman. Marcus grinned and gripped his flaccid penis and then sighed; “There must be something fucking wrong!” He had not had an erection for two days and he groaned loudly at the prospect of a really young slave girl for pleasure and no damn erection!
"That old bitch is draining my balls dry." He muttered and lay back on the bed, staring at the dull ceiling, pulling his cock about in the hope that something may happen - nothing did.
“What the fuck are you moaning at?” Grego gripped the bars of his cell and laughed; “You survived those two Gaul’s and with the next victory; you’ll be given fresh young fanny to feast upon!” He was a large African with a shaved head and well oiled body. Grego had been condemned to the arena for murder and had already dispatched several opponents – without suffering a scratch – ‘Blessed by Mars!’ Their Lanista; Aquila would say before giving Grego a slap from his whip, when he foolishly lapsed during training and Aquila noticed everything in his arena.
He was keeping a close eye on Marcus; a real killer that one, he thought to himself, whilst watching Marcus beating down his opponent on the training sand. He had explained to his master; Senator Agenn that Marcus was simply a killer and needed to ‘dress-up’ his kills for the audience – if he wished to make a real name for himself and the house of Agenn.
Senator Agenn told Aquila to prepare four of the men for a private party to celebrate his wife’s birthday. “My old friend Senator Lucious will be attending and he’s in the market for Gladiators – for Rome.” That could mean good money for the House of Agenn if they had their gladiators presented in Rome.
Aquila nodded his agreement and started to assess his best gladiators for the show. He also knew that Lady Livia Drusilla Agenn would appreciate gladiators like Marcus and Grego, stripped down to their bare essentials and spilling blood. That thought made Aquila laugh under his breath, as he watched his Dominus disappear from his small office at the rear of the cells.
He knew that Marcus had definitely caught the eye of the Lady of the House and that will mean trouble – so if he could get Marcus sold to Rome, that would certainly solve a couple of problems. That made the old gladiator smile and he took a swig from the goatskin of wine that hung behind his door.
Aquila slumped into his rough wooden chair and leaned back upon the stone wall, staring through the small window into the house arena. Had he really lived here for fifteen years? He took another swig of wine and closed his eyes – Tessa’s face appeared in his mind and he smiled – his first, and if he was honest, the only real love of this miserable life as a slave and a gladiator. But he was a ‘Lanista’ now and his eyes fell upon the small wooden sword that hung with real pride above his rough bed - the Rudus was the symbol of the freedom that he had won.
Aquila had won his freedom in the arena and now trained gladiators for one of the city’s best Ludus - the house of Agenn. He closed his eyes and felt tiredness close over him, but he shook the feeling away; he still had work to do.
He yawned and opened his eyes, reaching for the wine sack again, he stopped suddenly and jumped to his feet, and through the small window he could see Lady Livia escorting a very wealthy looking couple and their guard and servant towards him. The serving slave Julia stuck her head around his door and spoke softly; “The Mistress is looking for the Dominus - a wealthy couple visiting from Rome wants to look over the Gladiators.”
5. VISITORS.
couldn’t sew up a chickens arse for boiling!
His mind went over the afternoon’s events and he stretched out upon the plain wooden pallet that served as his bed. He had killed two young men in the arena; hacking the head off one and ripping open the guts on the other – but not before that bastard, dying Gaul had nicked him with his spear.
But his Master; Senator Brutus Agenn had been well pleased with Marcus and rewarded him with wine and fresh meat for dinner; Marcus had been at the Agenn Ludus for Gladiators for some weeks now and had already killed three opponents in the arena. He knew that his next performance – if he survived – would be rewarded with a woman. Marcus grinned and gripped his flaccid penis and then sighed; “There must be something fucking wrong!” He had not had an erection for two days and he groaned loudly at the prospect of a really young slave girl for pleasure and no damn erection!
"That old bitch is draining my balls dry." He muttered and lay back on the bed, staring at the dull ceiling, pulling his cock about in the hope that something may happen - nothing did.
“What the fuck are you moaning at?” Grego gripped the bars of his cell and laughed; “You survived those two Gaul’s and with the next victory; you’ll be given fresh young fanny to feast upon!” He was a large African with a shaved head and well oiled body. Grego had been condemned to the arena for murder and had already dispatched several opponents – without suffering a scratch – ‘Blessed by Mars!’ Their Lanista; Aquila would say before giving Grego a slap from his whip, when he foolishly lapsed during training and Aquila noticed everything in his arena.
He was keeping a close eye on Marcus; a real killer that one, he thought to himself, whilst watching Marcus beating down his opponent on the training sand. He had explained to his master; Senator Agenn that Marcus was simply a killer and needed to ‘dress-up’ his kills for the audience – if he wished to make a real name for himself and the house of Agenn.
Senator Agenn told Aquila to prepare four of the men for a private party to celebrate his wife’s birthday. “My old friend Senator Lucious will be attending and he’s in the market for Gladiators – for Rome.” That could mean good money for the House of Agenn if they had their gladiators presented in Rome.
Aquila nodded his agreement and started to assess his best gladiators for the show. He also knew that Lady Livia Drusilla Agenn would appreciate gladiators like Marcus and Grego, stripped down to their bare essentials and spilling blood. That thought made Aquila laugh under his breath, as he watched his Dominus disappear from his small office at the rear of the cells.
He knew that Marcus had definitely caught the eye of the Lady of the House and that will mean trouble – so if he could get Marcus sold to Rome, that would certainly solve a couple of problems. That made the old gladiator smile and he took a swig from the goatskin of wine that hung behind his door.
Aquila slumped into his rough wooden chair and leaned back upon the stone wall, staring through the small window into the house arena. Had he really lived here for fifteen years? He took another swig of wine and closed his eyes – Tessa’s face appeared in his mind and he smiled – his first, and if he was honest, the only real love of this miserable life as a slave and a gladiator. But he was a ‘Lanista’ now and his eyes fell upon the small wooden sword that hung with real pride above his rough bed - the Rudus was the symbol of the freedom that he had won.
Aquila had won his freedom in the arena and now trained gladiators for one of the city’s best Ludus - the house of Agenn. He closed his eyes and felt tiredness close over him, but he shook the feeling away; he still had work to do.
He yawned and opened his eyes, reaching for the wine sack again, he stopped suddenly and jumped to his feet, and through the small window he could see Lady Livia escorting a very wealthy looking couple and their guard and servant towards him. The serving slave Julia stuck her head around his door and spoke softly; “The Mistress is looking for the Dominus - a wealthy couple visiting from Rome wants to look over the Gladiators.”
5. VISITORS.
Aquila grunted and told Julia that the Master would probably be in the wine
room with the House Steward Claudus; he would be selecting the wine for the
party. That’s when Aquila took a close look at the couple and smiled broadly;
the woman was simply stunning, tall, pale skinned and with beautiful dark hair.
He noticed her walk and the way she held her head: Aristocracy.
Plain, simple and obvious: Aristocracy. He repeated to himself, then pulled away from her beauty and eyed her husband. Nothing special there; he has to be really wealthy to have married such an Aristocratic woman – really wealthy.
He looked at their African Guard; truly a big man with a large curved sword and silver breastplate and helmet. Aquila knew he could handle himself, just by his walk and the way he looked about with each step.
The skinny little servant boy sparked no interest apart from the strange grin and shuffling walk, but the dark leather bag hanging from his shoulder caught his eye – a money sack?
If they’re carrying money with them; then it’s a serious visit. Aquila grinned broadly and wiped his hands upon his shabby tunic, he could see by the Southern Gateway, several Legionnaires with red and silver tunics – By fucking Mars, their guards were Imperial troops - who the hell are these people!
Then he heard his Mistress calling his name. Quickly fitting his best breastplate, Aquila emerged from the semi-darkness of his small office and stepped into the bright sunshine and bowed quite low. He followed the group into the house as servants offered wine and grapes to the visitors.
“My husband, Senator Agenn will be here immediately.” Lady Liva announced and the guests sat at her bidding, everyone noticed that the big African guard remained standing behind his master; his face expressionless, but Aquila noticed his eyes were moving around the room and his hand remained upon the hilt of that deadly looking sword. Guards like him didn’t come cheap – this pair stinks of money and power he concluded – and his Mistress knew it.
Senator Agenn embraced his visitor like a long lost son and kissed Lady Alex’s hand. “Welcome Lord Tibbus to the house of Agenn.” He said with some pride and the group sat chatting, sipping wine and nibbling at grapes and olives.
“I convinced my husband that we can find excellent fighting stock here in the provinces – and have a little holiday together from all the intrigues of Rome.” Lady Alex smiled broadly and gripped her husband’s shoulder with some tenderness, adding; “My father keeps about forty gladiators at his Southern Villa and Ludus. They fight exclusively in Rome at the many festivals and Imperial celebrations, so he is constantly seeking good stock.”
“I have heard your name several times in regard to good fighters, hence the visit.” Lord Tibbus said quietly and glanced at Aquilia; “Some three years ago I saw you fight here; you killed three warriors – they were Germanic, I think. Excellent kills, good entertainment. Now as Lanista of such a house, I would wager you’re producing some good fighting men – yes?”
Aquila bowed low and Senator Agenn nodded that he may speak in reply.
“My Lord, We have some good one’s coming up and maybe three or four have the skills and experience to claim a place in the great and famous arena of Rome and give honour to your house.” He slapped his fist across his chest in salute, like he was back in the legions and saluting his Officer.
Lord Tibbus smiled and nodded at Senator Agenn; “Such a man can be believed!” and raised his glass to Aquila in salute. “May we see your four best men?” He asked the Senator directly and both the Senator and his wife knew that a man like this didn’t make requests – he ordered.
Lady Liva told Aquila to bring up his four best fighters- but not Marcus.
The look on her husband’s face spoke volumes about their real relationship – they had loathed each other for some years; but divorce was out of the question for both. He needed her money and father’s influence; she needed his position as Senator and Master of Gladiators – and so they played the game of happy families to keep what they needed.
Aquila returned to the cells and ordered the chosen Gladiators to prepare with oil. He had witnessed the altercation between the Dominus and the Mistress in the small ante-chamber to the feasting room, over Marcus. What had been passing between him and the Mistress was now apparent to her husband - and for once, he wasn't prepared to overlook this little affair.
Meanwhile, a strangely disinterested Marcus sat in his cell and knew why he wasn’t called – a large smile gripped his face and he whispered sarcastically; “Up Venus and down Mars.”
6. GODS AND GHOSTS.
Aquilla watched as the chosen men trooped up the rear stairs into the Viewing Chamber
and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This had caused serious division between the
Master and the Mistress - serious division.
He watched as two of the serving girls carried bread, cheese and beer to the couples guards; sitting and standing around the Southern gateway. He was about to return to the Viewing Chamber when he heard a very distinctive laugh, it stopped Aquilla in his tracks. He turned slowly and stared at the Legionnaires who were teasing and laughing with the serving girls.
One big man stood out; laughing loudly and swigging his beer with great gusto. The legionnaire turned and faced Aquilla with a big smile. Aquilla gripped the doorway and felt his legs slightly go from under him. The big man raised his tankard to Aquilla and smiled broadly; it was an old Legionnaire colleague of Aquilla from the 8th legion - they had served in Germanicus and Gaul together.
There was a slight problem with this happy reunion; Aquilla had prepared Sedd [the big man] for his funeral pyre many years ago and had the honour of putting the torch to the brave man's final bonfire - Sedd had been killed in battle, almost having his head severed by a Germanic pagan's axe.
The big man had been dead for many years. He was a ghost - a Phasma and he was beckoning Aquilla over to him. He shuffled past the serving girls - returning to the kitchens to fetch more beer - like a slave in chains, his mouth dry and mind clouded with fear.
Sedd smiled broadly and gripped his old friend by the shoulder and spoke quietly; "Don't worry Aquilla, they are not here for you!" He nodded towards the villa's reception room and added; "That bastard Marcus Colla should be dead and the two deities are here to collect what's due to them. Do as they order you my old friend, you cannot defy the Gods. They will have his soul."
With shaking hand, Aquilla gestured to the other soldiers and whispered; "How is this possible? I freed your soul with my own hand when I set your pyre ablaze all those years ago; how can you be standing here drinking and laughing?"
Sedd laughed, throwing back his head; "The hereafter is nothing like we've been told my friend and you need not fear it. The two deities have resurrected me and these other men to act as guards for them - we're no more than props that are used in a theatre. But it means we can live again, even if its only for a few hours. They will arrange for Marcus Colla to die in the arena at Suburra, as he should have done. Remember; do as they order!"
Filled with fear and trepidation, Aquilla returned to his office and drank deeply from the goatskin of wine, collapsing upon the rough little chair and staring up at the ceiling. The servant girl Julia appeared in the doorway and told Aquilla that the Mistress wanted him in her bedroom's ante-chamber - at once.
Aquilla dragged himself from the chair and made his way to the rear of the Villa.
7. A DESPERATE FLIGHT AT MIDNIGHT.
With his head reeling with the events of the evening, Aquilla slumped down upon the rough little chair again and gulped wine from the goatskin. Lady Liva had packed two travelling bags and placed all her jewellery and some coin into a small chest. Her day cloak lay ready upon the bed and she gave Aquilla clear instructions about his part in her flight from the Villa, the Ludus and her husband. She also pushed a bag of coin into his hand; the weight told him that his Mistress was deadly serious.
Lady Liva had reached breaking point in the relationship with her husband, he had drunkenly told her, that he had indeed sold Marcus to the wealthy couple from Rome and they would collect their purchase tomorrow. When she protested, the Senator had struck her several times and threatened to expose her sordid sexual acts with the Gladiator-slave Marcus to all her friends and Peers - she would be ruined and a social outcast from 'polite' Roman society.
As the 'wronged' husband he would claim her property and fortune and she could rot in the streets, selling her body to survive and he didn't give a fuck about that; "You deserve nothing less you scabby old whore!" Was his final words.
Thus, she had bribed Aquilla to stage the escape of Marcus from his cell and the Ludus. Lady Liva had arranged horses at the Southern gateway for Midnight and the pair would take flight to Rome, where, in that crowded metropolis they could simply hide in plain sight. Aquilla could go along with that, but the second part of her scheme left him cold inside; he was to free Grego as well - who would also be rewarded with a large bag of coin and a horse - for killing her husband as he slept the drink off.
Everything could be blamed on the escape of the murderous Gladiators, including her apparent abduction, their theft of money and horses, and of course, the death of her husband.
Aquilla did all he was ordered; he released Grego and Marcus who went straight to his lover, whilst Grego disappeared to carry out his part of the plan and he did so with brutal joy.
As the pair approached the Southern gateway, they found Julia waiting with a goatskin of wine and a bag food wrapped tightly. "The food is from me - I stole it from the Kitchens - the wine is from Aquilla." She whispered quietly and bade them farewell. "So the old bastard has a heart after all." Grego muttered and slung it over his saddle. They joined Lady Liva outside the gateway and the three riders made their way to the Northern Road; which ran to Rome.
Aquilla lay upon his bed and stared up at the ceiling; he clutched the precious Rudus to his chest and knew that come morning, the local magistrate would be at the Villa, investigating the murder of Senator Agenn, the apparent abduction of his wife and the escape of two dangerous slaves.
Everyone would be interrogated and that would not be pleasant; if he only received a whipping he would have got off lightly. Julia appeared in the doorway and said simply; "It's done, they are on their way." Aquilla nodded and held out his hand. Julia allowed her dress to slip to the floor and stood naked in the moonlight. Aquilla pulled his shirt off and rose slowly from the bed and whispered; "This may be all we will ever have."
8. A CHANGE OF PLAN.
Lady Liva had reached breaking point in the relationship with her husband, he had drunkenly told her, that he had indeed sold Marcus to the wealthy couple from Rome and they would collect their purchase tomorrow. When she protested, the Senator had struck her several times and threatened to expose her sordid sexual acts with the Gladiator-slave Marcus to all her friends and Peers - she would be ruined and a social outcast from 'polite' Roman society.
As the 'wronged' husband he would claim her property and fortune and she could rot in the streets, selling her body to survive and he didn't give a fuck about that; "You deserve nothing less you scabby old whore!" Was his final words.
Thus, she had bribed Aquilla to stage the escape of Marcus from his cell and the Ludus. Lady Liva had arranged horses at the Southern gateway for Midnight and the pair would take flight to Rome, where, in that crowded metropolis they could simply hide in plain sight. Aquilla could go along with that, but the second part of her scheme left him cold inside; he was to free Grego as well - who would also be rewarded with a large bag of coin and a horse - for killing her husband as he slept the drink off.
Everything could be blamed on the escape of the murderous Gladiators, including her apparent abduction, their theft of money and horses, and of course, the death of her husband.
Aquilla did all he was ordered; he released Grego and Marcus who went straight to his lover, whilst Grego disappeared to carry out his part of the plan and he did so with brutal joy.
As the pair approached the Southern gateway, they found Julia waiting with a goatskin of wine and a bag food wrapped tightly. "The food is from me - I stole it from the Kitchens - the wine is from Aquilla." She whispered quietly and bade them farewell. "So the old bastard has a heart after all." Grego muttered and slung it over his saddle. They joined Lady Liva outside the gateway and the three riders made their way to the Northern Road; which ran to Rome.
Aquilla lay upon his bed and stared up at the ceiling; he clutched the precious Rudus to his chest and knew that come morning, the local magistrate would be at the Villa, investigating the murder of Senator Agenn, the apparent abduction of his wife and the escape of two dangerous slaves.
Everyone would be interrogated and that would not be pleasant; if he only received a whipping he would have got off lightly. Julia appeared in the doorway and said simply; "It's done, they are on their way." Aquilla nodded and held out his hand. Julia allowed her dress to slip to the floor and stood naked in the moonlight. Aquilla pulled his shirt off and rose slowly from the bed and whispered; "This may be all we will ever have."
8. A CHANGE OF PLAN.
Lady Liva was talking softly with Marcus and adjusting the girth of her horse when Grego struck her hard across the back of the head and she fell screaming to the ground. Marcus sat upon the ruins of a small wall and took swigs from the goatskin and watched with some satisfaction, but little interest, as Grego tore the clothes from her back and repeatedly struck her, whilst he brutally raped Lady Liva upon the soft earth.
Realising that he had his first erection in days, Marcus turned the sobbing woman over, as Grego held her face down, and pulled the cheeks of her arse apart. "Stick fucking wooden cocks up my arse for your own amusement you fucking bitch!" He took his revenge violently and with great satisfaction - Lady Liva had simply mistaken Marcus's obedience to her sexual desires as love - that was her fatal error. He was simply obeying orders, rather than receive worse punishment.
The two men took turns, in-between gulping down the wine, and finally Marcus pulled his dagger from its scabbard and drove the sharp, thin blade through the throat of the hysterically screaming woman. He wiped the blade upon her discarded dress and both men rolled the naked body into a nearby drainage ditch.
Liva stood by the ditch and stared at her body; she could feel nothing but sadness; surely she didn't deserve such a fate? Herbie the Collector just smiled at her and they walked to the light. Unusually, for the newly departed, she said nothing to the Collector and they vanished.
Marcus cleaned the blood from his legs and cock with the remains of her clothes and laughed softly, as Grego finished the wine and slapped his friends shoulder; "Lets go, we must put a few more miles between us and the city guard." Marcus nodded and both mounted their horses, with the third, now empty, horse in tow.
Grego threw the goatskin into the stream and they galloped towards the road that would take them to Rome and relative freedom - for now.
Marcus simply fell from his horse making no sound and lay sprawled upon the roadway, one hand still clutching the reins. Grego managed to mutter some obscenities and staggered from his horse, collapsing face down near the grass verge - he managed to puke a little and then death closed his eyes.
Kath the Collector walked both men quietly towards the light. Marcus halted for a few seconds and stared back at his body, sprawled upon the roadway. "Is that it? My Life I mean?" He asked her and Kath nodded. "I would have been better off as a fucking dog." He muttered and they disappeared into the light.
The two dead men lay on the road until about mid morning when a passing tinker family came upon the bodies. The old Tinker and his two sons quickly searched the bodies and horses, retrieving Lady Liva's clothes and jewellery box. It was a good start to their day; they could sell the horses in the city for coin and his daughter now had clothes that she could be proud of.
The wagon disappeared down the quiet road with the horses following in single file behind, tied securely to the wagons rear door. The Tinker family was so happy that they sung and practised their selling routines with some joy.
The bodies of the two dead gladiators were found by the city guard that afternoon and were conveyed back into the city for disposal. The body of Lady Livia was not discovered and rotted in the ditch until it became skeletal. Then it was slowly covered with dirt, disappearing from sight and history.
Marcus simply fell from his horse making no sound and lay sprawled upon the roadway, one hand still clutching the reins. Grego managed to mutter some obscenities and staggered from his horse, collapsing face down near the grass verge - he managed to puke a little and then death closed his eyes.
Kath the Collector walked both men quietly towards the light. Marcus halted for a few seconds and stared back at his body, sprawled upon the roadway. "Is that it? My Life I mean?" He asked her and Kath nodded. "I would have been better off as a fucking dog." He muttered and they disappeared into the light.
The two dead men lay on the road until about mid morning when a passing tinker family came upon the bodies. The old Tinker and his two sons quickly searched the bodies and horses, retrieving Lady Liva's clothes and jewellery box. It was a good start to their day; they could sell the horses in the city for coin and his daughter now had clothes that she could be proud of.
The wagon disappeared down the quiet road with the horses following in single file behind, tied securely to the wagons rear door. The Tinker family was so happy that they sung and practised their selling routines with some joy.
The bodies of the two dead gladiators were found by the city guard that afternoon and were conveyed back into the city for disposal. The body of Lady Livia was not discovered and rotted in the ditch until it became skeletal. Then it was slowly covered with dirt, disappearing from sight and history.
Magistrate Claudus was appointed to investigate the murder of Senator Agenn and the disappearance of his wife. His verdict was harsh:
The House Steward, who could not explain how large bags of coin disappeared from the undamaged money chest, repeatedly pleaded that he knew nothing of the theft - which in fact was true; but he was flogged and sent to the Arena as sport for the newly arrived African Lions.
All the House guards were condemned to serve in the Legions for ten years - which was considered too lenient by many wealthy Roman's, who feared a slave uprising in their own homes.
Magistrate Claudus would ensure that no scandal would touch the name and honour of his old friend; no true Roman lady would decamp in the night with two vicious, murdering thugs of her own free will and so any such defence by the staff, would be disregarded.
Thus the servant Julia, as Lady Liva's personal maid, could not explain the bag of stolen food or the missing dresses [Magistrate Claudus reasoned that a woman being abducted by force wouldn't stop and pack!] was whipped and lawfully violated by four guards before being sold at auction to some Egyptian merchants, who were seeking new stock for their Thebes brothels.
Her final fate was unknown to her friends and family.
Aquilla, despite giving up the bag of coin as evidence that his story was true - which wasn't accepted by the Magistrate - simply could not now explain how the two men escaped and stood in silence as his fate was decreed; he was lashed and sent to the Galley's as a rowing slave for ten years - he did not survive the ordeal and died of 'the fever' chained to the oar of a Roman Battle galley somewhere off the coast of Africa.
Some fellow slaves carried his body upon deck and simply threw it into the sea, where it floated for a few hours, then sank beneath the waves. His precious Rudus was discovered near his rowing position and was used as a spill to light lamps until its useful life was over and was discarded.
He never told anyone how the poison had appeared in the goatskin because he didn't know - But Julia was believed to have had a grudge towards her Mistress for all the beatings she had received over the years and the savage sexual assault she had suffered at the hands of Grego, about which her Mistress did nothing. Her feelings towards Marcus were not known.
Mr. Tibbs and his team were surprised by the turn of events that had been generated by their visit to the Villa and Ludus of the late Senator Agenn - but the current Time-line had been preserved with only minor changes apparent - therefore the Mission was judged quite a success. Jericho had discovered from a Senior Time Controller that Marcus's survival in the arena, had been a 'glitch' - they happen occasionally - and that it was a direct descendant [not previously created] that would have caused serious change to the time-line, some centuries later.
Wilson had asked about those changes and a grim faced Jericho had explained that Marcus's unscheduled descendant, working in the late 7th Century in Naples, had discovered the formula for gunpowder! The result could have had serious consequences for humanity, in that 'modern' warfare would have been introduced much earlier and the huge amount of extra deaths that would have created, would have practically changed everything.
"So he's death is really a cause to celebrate." Owen muttered and sipped his brandy. Alex was the only team member who really didn't celebrate the successful conclusion of the mission; she had consulted her mirror and found the fates that had awaited the staff and guards of Senator Brutus Agenn's villa and Ludus.
"All because one man had a stroke of luck in a filthy little arena and survived when it was decreed he should die - all because it didn't fit the plan." She whispered to Ruth, who passed her a glass of brandy and Alex sat by the fireplace watching the flames dancing in the grate. Ruth just nodded; she knew Alex well enough to know when she wasn't happy and best left alone.
EPILOGUE:
"With the collection of Marcus Colla's soul - eventually - and with no unexpected new descendants, the original human time line was restored. Just for that alone, the mission was considered a success."
W.A.S.
CHARACTERS:
Marcus Colla's death from poisoning on the road to Rome had prevented serious change to the Time-line and restored it to the original ordained settings. The child he would have created [with a slave girl given to him as reward for his actions in the arena] now did not exist - and the discovery of gunpowder would now be much later - as the original time line had it. His soul was collected and
processed.
Titus Caelinus [the Centurion] who had condemned Marcus to the arena for bedding his wife Octavia, was killed in Gaul {modern day France] two years later. His wife held a party to celebrate her new freedom! - His soul was collected and processed.
Octavia Caelinus had only betrayed Marcus to her husband after finding him with a much younger woman; she told her husband that he had attacked her. She became a widow after her husband was killed in Gaul. She re-married; a wealthy Syrian Merchant and lived in luxury in Damascus until her death some years later. She had no children by either husband. Her soul was collected and processed.
Grego had died just a week before he would have been killed in the arena. His early death made little change to the Time-Line. His soul was collected and placed in quarantine until the year 840AD. He had to answer for some serious violent acts in his life; including rape and murders.
Senator Brutus Agenn's death caused a few changes to the time-line, which were deemed acceptable - he had died some months earlier than his scheduled departure date. But what concerned Human Records was that no soul was collected and that is under investigation by Temporal Detective Inspector Fran Anantasu and Team 63 - there is currently no resolution to the case.
Lady Liva Agenn's early and violent death had changed the time-line very little and her soul was collected and processed.
House Steward Claudius was sent to the arena and just a few days later was torn to pieces by two African lions. His terrible death was greeted with applause and some laughter by the small crowd. His frantic attempts to avoid the lions had amused the audience greatly - he still tried to run, despite an arm ripped off and part of his torso missing. The lions quickly finished the job. His soul was collected and processed.
Aquilla's death in the slave ship made little difference to the current Time- line; he would have died just years after his unscheduled death on the boat, due to an undiagnosed brain tumour. His soul was collected and processed.
Julia - the maid servant - was sold to some visiting Egyptian merchants and became a forced prostitute in a Thebes brothel. She died a year later; beaten to death by a drunken client. She never told a soul about poisoning her Mistress and Grego - she hated the pair. Marcus had been killed simply because he was with the pair and drank from the same goatskin! Her soul was collected and processed - she was quarantined until the year 350AD.
Magistrate Claudius moved to Rome and became quite a celebrated owner of Gladiators. Unfortunately - for him - he upset some powerful merchants and Senators by refusing to fix matches in the arena. He was found strangled in his bed one morning after a particular good day in the arena. No one was ever brought to justice for his murder. His soul was collected and processed.
Pullo Sextus - the gate guard at Suburra Arena should never have eaten that ancient goat; he became violently ill and basically shit and puked to death. He complained bitterly to Neerja Naidu - his collector - all the way to the light about the damn goat. His soul was collected and processed.
House Steward Claudius was sent to the arena and just a few days later was torn to pieces by two African lions. His terrible death was greeted with applause and some laughter by the small crowd. His frantic attempts to avoid the lions had amused the audience greatly - he still tried to run, despite an arm ripped off and part of his torso missing. The lions quickly finished the job. His soul was collected and processed.
Aquilla's death in the slave ship made little difference to the current Time- line; he would have died just years after his unscheduled death on the boat, due to an undiagnosed brain tumour. His soul was collected and processed.
Julia - the maid servant - was sold to some visiting Egyptian merchants and became a forced prostitute in a Thebes brothel. She died a year later; beaten to death by a drunken client. She never told a soul about poisoning her Mistress and Grego - she hated the pair. Marcus had been killed simply because he was with the pair and drank from the same goatskin! Her soul was collected and processed - she was quarantined until the year 350AD.
Magistrate Claudius moved to Rome and became quite a celebrated owner of Gladiators. Unfortunately - for him - he upset some powerful merchants and Senators by refusing to fix matches in the arena. He was found strangled in his bed one morning after a particular good day in the arena. No one was ever brought to justice for his murder. His soul was collected and processed.
Pullo Sextus - the gate guard at Suburra Arena should never have eaten that ancient goat; he became violently ill and basically shit and puked to death. He complained bitterly to Neerja Naidu - his collector - all the way to the light about the damn goat. His soul was collected and processed.
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