As if knowing his thought his second in command turned to him.
“It will soon be over Flavius. We are almost there. In couple of hours they will be out of your hands.”
Flavius exhaled and turned towards Publius. He was almost ten years older than him. He was his teacher and mentor since the first day he joined the legions. They went up in the ranks together.
“I know but are we doing the right thing Publius. You always taught me to respect my enemies and I always did. But this…” he showed with his hand at the groups of people moving slowly “This is not respect, yes they are slaves now, but they are our slaves and we are human just like them and the creatures waiting there at the end of this journey, they are something else.”
The older legionary looked at his younger colleague. He could see the questions in the eyes of Flavius and he knew that he asked himself those same questions as well. But deep inside he knew that now is not the time to ask them. The same centurion that brought the report also said something else. He said that those creatures had things that could fly and that those objects were the same. And he spoke of some strange weapons they carried as well. No whoever they were, they were not from this world, and deep inside he knew that they were not the real enemy just the messenger. The real enemy was somewhere far away hidden in the future. As he thought of that he raised his head and looked at the blue sky. He couldn’t see the stars but he knew deep inside that the answer was somewhere there where the gods reside and rule.
“I understand Flavius. I know but keep those thoughts inside. There will be a time when those thoughts will be needed but that time is for other people, for another time. For us, it’s to remember, to know, so that we can warn the others that are to come.”
The younger commander turned towards him.
“You know that I hate it when you speak like that.”
“No you don’t. You love it and you know that I always speak the truth.”
The last comment brought a smile to Flavius’s face. “No you don’t.”
The older centurion smiled. “You are right my young apprentice. But today I am. And you know it.”
“I know you are Publius. That is what scares me.”
“Instead of pity for them Flavius think of what awaits you at the end. By this time tomorrow you will have more gold than you can imagine. No one in the Republic or any other empire we know of will pay that much for the slaves as these creatures do. And whatever fate awaits them”- he pointed towards the slaves-“it will be no different than the one we have in stored for them.”
“Gold that for most part will end in the hands of Scipio and the men around him.”
“And you Flavius. Scipio made sure of that. Whether you know it or not he holds you in high regard. You have a bright future ahead of you if you are smart Flavius. Use it and use what you will gain today. I will be there to give you advice as long as you need it my young friend.”
Flavius turned towards him and smiled.
“I know you will and I’m thankful for it.”
They spent the rest of the journey in silence moving at the head of the column. It was almost dark when they finally reached the destination. As they noticed the large objects both the Romans and their captives gasped. The objects in question were large. They looked like large turtle shells. Ramps were leading form the sides towards the surface. As he watched he noticed that they were not standing on the desert sand. Instead he could notice the ships standing on extended legs that seemed to support them. And as he looked at the sand around the ships, it looked scorched, almost turned to glass. He knew how much heat was needed for the creating of glass. If this objects could produce that much heat he wondered what else they could do.
The advance scouts that he sent to announce their arrival were waiting together with several of the creatures. He directed his horse towards them. The rest of his guard followed him.
The legionaries saluted as he came close and came down from his horse. He saluted back. The wolf like creature just smiled and nodded. He nodded back.
“You have made the delivery sooner than expected Flavius Maximus. This will be rewarded.”
The sound was strange, alien in some strange way. It didn’t sound like when a human from another country spoke Latin. The accent wasn’t there.
Flavius wondered what he should respond to the creature. He decided to just thank him.
“Thank you…I don’t know your name?”
The creature smiled and showed its strange reptilian teeth. It looked like a wolf but it wasn’t. As he watched that smile Flavius knew that this creature couldn’t be from this world. He spoke a silent prayer to the gods, but as he looked at the creature he couldn’t detect any malevolence. He noticed the look it gave the Carthaginian slaves. There was pity in that look and compassion. Like it knew that they don’t deserve the fate they were handed.
Before he could say anything the creature nodded like it understood.
“My name is Kvesar. That is how my people know me young Roman.”
Before Flavius could say anything Kvesar extended his four fingered hand and grasped his in a handshake. His grip was surprisingly strong. Flavius didn’t hold back and pressed his grip stronger. The creature responded equally. But Flavius didn’t let his pain show. Instead he put all he had in to the grip. He noticed the alien wince. And then the small contest was over. They both let go and Kvesar smiled.
“Will you walk with me? Maybe share some wine?”
Flavius looked at his men and the prisoners that were now being loaded on to the objects. They were going in without resisting. He knew the reason for that. Their spirit was broken. But even as he watched he noticed a group of Carthaginians watching him, one especially. He immediately knew his name, Hanno the White, the only Carthaginian general besides Himilco Phameas to survive the war. Himilco was now dead having killed himself when he saw the city he once swore to protect in flames, dying in shame. Some of his soldiers were now here, choosing to go with the rest of the survivors of Carthage, to give in to the fate. It seemed that Hanno had forgiven them. Even in defeat Hanno looked proud.
“Be proud son of Baal. Be proud of the past you now represent and be strong enough to give hope to your people for the future. Be Strong enough.”
He nodded at his soldiers and went with Kvesar.
They walked in silence for several minutes no one saying a word. When they were far enough from the objects and the columns of slaves entering into them under the watchful eyes of the legionaries and the strange creatures, Kvesar stopped and turned. He pulled two strange looking bottles and handed one to Flavius.
“To your victory Roman…May it be the first of many to come.”
They both drank. The wine tasted sweet, much better than the one Flavius had a chance to drink in the legions. He smiled and looked at the strange creature.
“This is great wine Kvesar.”
The creature looked at him and smiled.
“It is isn’t it? It is one of the rare enjoyments we share with your race. There are many more that you have yet to discover, many more.”
Flavius looked at him and pondered his words. “Race…” That was a strange word but a word that it was known to him, a word that was used to describe an entity the entire Roman people as whole but here he was sure that Kvesar used it in a different context. As he watched the slaves, as he looked at Hanno he suddenly knew.
As he did he noticed Kvesar watching him. Somehow he knew what he had just found out.
“You know now human. You know the truth.”
As he spoke, Flavius noticed the sadness in his voice.
“You are not from around here…from this world are you Kvesar?”
“No we are not.”
As he said those words Kvesar looked up at the stars that were now starting to shine in the clear night sky.
“We are not from here Flavius, we are from up there.” He pointed towards a group of stars. Flavius had no idea what stars they were. He knew that some
people in Rome might know. He made a mental note to remember to ask.
But as he looked at them and then at the creature he suddenly gasped, and as he turned towards the strange looking objects he realized that they were ships, strange looking but still ships.
“We sail the seas and you sail the skies and roam the stars.”
“Yes my young human friend.”
Before Kvesar could say anything Flavius spoke…
“There will be Romans boarding ships like that one day, wont there…?”
The alien looked at him and without second thought answered him.
“Yes…Both in the future and in the past…That is what you must understand.”
Flavius felt a surge of anger and his right hand went towards his gladius. The creature didn’t react. It just watched him. Flavius knew that it felt no fear, but as he looked in to his eyes he knew that it felt shame. And as he looked at the people boarding the ships he felt it too. He let go of the sword.
“It is a shameful thing what we both must do Flavius, a shameful thing. And the shame is even bigger because it is not the first and it won’t be the last time that we will do this, that I will do this.”
Flavius looked at him. But Kvesar kept looking at the ships.
“You feel anger now Roman. And that anger is justified. But now is not the time to unleash it. All it would get you now is death, both for you and for the soldiers that follow you.”
“I could kill you before you manage to give the order. We could kill you all.”
“You could but you won’t. You can hate me, you should hate me, but you can see in my eyes that I’m not your real enemy.”
“Then tell me who he is?”
The creature sat down. Flavius shivered at the cold night air. The same desert that was so hot during the day was icy cold in the night. Kvesar seemed to notice. He pulled a strange looking device from his uniform and lighted a fire. The fire seemed to be coming out from the device. Like some kind of torch only it was small and it didn’t have any visible fuel that fed the fire.
He wanted to ask how it burned but deep inside he knew that he wouldn’t understand. So instead he sat down.
“Before you tell me what you want to say Kvesar I want two more men to hear your words.”
“Ah…your mentor, you want him to know the truth as well. I wonder who the other one is.”
Flavius didn’t say a word he just pointed. As he did he noticed the surprise on Kvesar’s face.
“That is a strange request Roman but it is proof that I chose wisely.”
He raised his hand and Flavius noticed two of the creatures pointing both Publius and Hanno to come to them. Publius came alone while Hanno was led by one of the creatures.
When they both came Kvesar waved the guard away and pointed to both of them to sit down. Publius followed quickly but Hanno just watched them. Before Kvesar could say anything Flavius stood.
“You were honorable enemy Hanno. You were honorable in victory and in your defeat. This may be the last time we have a chance to speak. Sit down now as an equal not as a slave.”
“You say equal Roman, you say sit not as a slave, and yet my people are nothing more than that now. We will just have a different master. While we speak they are already being taken by their new masters.”
Kvesar raised his head and looked at the Carthaginian. When he spoke he spoke the language that Hanno understood. Both Publius and Flavius looked with small surprise as they heard the Phoenician words being spoken.
“Sit Hanno, sit and listen to what I have to say. Tonight, at this exact moment these people are not your enemy. Tonight they are just fellow human beings learning part of the truth. Hear my words, hear what Carthage will still give and then be proud. The road ahead of your people will be hard, harder than you can ever imagine. But it is a road that needs to be taken.”
Hanno sat down. He looked at the two Romans and as Kvesar noticed the looks they exchanged he could see the hatred they felt for each other.
“What would you do if you knew that an enemy was approaching your borders, enemy that is so powerful that will devour you the first chance he sees a weakness? An enemy that could never be your friend or ally because you both want the same things the same territories and he never wants to share. You know the answer to that question, all three of you do. The hundred years of war between your cities are proof of that. And I fear that one day my people may suffer the same fate as your city Hanno, and maybe even worse than that.”
All three humans watched him without saying a word. They understood better than he imagined. All three knew that it was not the first time Kvesar and others like him had come to buy the slaves of a newly defeated city or empire. They never knew why. In times past they thought that the gods sent their messengers but now looking at this creature looking at his eyes they knew that he couldn’t come from the gods.
“You called me human before when we talked.”
“And he called me the same when he led me here” Hanno pointed towards the creature that brought him.
“Yes. We both called you humans. We called you that because you are both that. Just as both me and him are Zerg. Your race is called human, it is a word that you often use but you still don’t understand but you will one day. One day in the future.”
All three humans looked at him. He could see their confusion but he didn’t say anything more.
“You should hate me, probably would, but neither me nor any of my race are your real enemy.”
“Then who is?”
Kvesar exhaled. “That is not so important now Flavius. It will be one day when my people fail in the mission we have before us.”
“What mission?”
“The mission to prolong, to delay the final confrontation with our enemy for as long as we can…I can’t tell you who they are and at this time it doesn’t really matter. What I can say is that there is a strange connection between you and them, a connection from the past, a past we don’t yet understand our selves. That is why we need you, the reason why we are here. You look in to my eyes and you see shame there. Yes it is shame, a shame that my race has to bear. It is a shame, a debt that I hope we will one day be able to repay. I hope that one day the rest of my race will repent for what we did to you, for what we still do.”
He turned to Hanno who watched him silently.
“Yes general your people will be slaves from now on until the end of your days and the days of your children and their children. And yes it is a fate worse than death. But that is the burden you have to bear. That is the burden that all of those that came before you bear as well. It is the curse of your race. By being their slaves you buy time both for the Zerg and for your world, you buy time for the future. It is a fate worse than death, but it is a fate you must embrace now. Tell your people to never lose hope because one day in the future, a day that none of us will see all those debts will be repaid.”
As he said those words Kvesar rose. Without looking at him the three humans rose as well. On their faces he could see that they don’t quite understand but he didn’t say anything more. He started walking towards the ships. The last of the prisoners were now being loaded on to the ships. The Romans and the Carthaginian didn’t exchange words they just followed. As they caught up with the Zerg Hanno stepped up front and looked in to his eyes. The alien returned the look.
“Why did you tell us this? Why?”
Kvesar seemed to be thinking for a second.
“Because your race once had a past a past that we are only now starting to learn about, you are destined for greatness general. Because all we need to do is see how a Dacarian Legionary looks at you to know the respect they hold for you, respect they hold for no other race that faced them. You were enemies once and you will be again. I’m ashamed that we didn’t get to know you then instead of now. I’m ashamed of what my race has to do in order to survive. We are warriors and conquerors but we had honor before we met them. Now all I have is shame. That is why.”
&nb
sp; As they neared the ship Hanno looked at the two Romans behind him. They looked back.
Flavius noticed that the hatred was now gone. And deep inside him he knew that his hatred was gone as well. Oh the fire was still there it could not be erased so easy but it was burning silently now. When Flavius looked at Hanno he was seeing a fellow soldier, a human that was now leading his men in a new battle a battle far more important than the one they fought. The Carthaginian was older than them. The white hairs on his hair were the reason for his namesake and scars both new and old could be seen on his face. And yet his blue eyes shined with passion. Even without the hate they were still shining. It seemed as if the words of the Zerg awakened some hidden passion inside him.
“May Jupiter watch over you…” As he said those words he handed the bottle of wine that Kvesar gave him to Hanno.
The Carthaginian smiled.
“And may Ball grant you wisdom and strength.”
Before any of the Romans could respond the general followed his men inside the ship. He was proud even now and Flavius noticed his men walking taller as they saw him. He remembered the stories about another great general from Carthage, about Hannibal. He knew that he was the same before the end. He felt a strange sadness in his heart as the ramp raised and the doors closed.
Kvesar looked at him from the distance.
“You have time till the morning to be at a distance of one league from this place. Your gold is loaded Roman. There is one more carriage that is just for you and your men. Use it well.”
After this Kvesar and his men disappeared inside the strange ship. Flavius noticed his men waiting with the carriages loaded with gold and jewels. One carriage stood separated from the rest and he knew that that one was for him and his men. He smiled. He got on his horse and pointed forward as he did the small army started moving away from the strange ships. Several hours later they all heard the distant thunder and saw the strange looking ships rising magnificently in to the skies. And on different sides of the globe other ships like that raised too, all carrying people from destroyed cities and countries. Several more rose from a territory controlled by the Romans. Those came from the Balkans carrying with it Macedonians and Greeks that had the courage to stand up to the might of Rome. And while most of the humans never looked in to the night sky at the stars that were shining some did. Two of them did all their lives wondering all the time what happened to the eighty thousand people that they sold, what happened to the last living Carthaginian general, what happened to Kvesar.
The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3) Page 42
