Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  “You were a gladiator?” Nagamasa asks cocking his head

  “Yes, I was” Proximo puffing up proud of the memory of his time gone by

  “You won your freedom?” Nagamasa asks now his interest peaked.

  “Long time ago the old Lord Oda presented me with a Rudius—it’s just a wooden sword, a symbol for your freedom. He touched me on the shoulder once, and I was free.” He says his face lighting up at the memory when he met the great lord Oda and won his freedom.

  “You knew Lord Oda?” Nagamasa ways laughing loudly that a man like Proximo would have known such a man.

  “I did not say that I knew him. I said he touched me on the shoulder once.” Proximo says with a growl, he would not tarnish a memory like that with lies, of course he didn’t know Oda, he only saw him once, was touched on the shoulder once, nothing more.

  “You asked me what I want. I, too, want to stand in front of the Emperor, as you did.” Nagamasa says drawing closer his voice low and soft

  “Then listen to me. Learn from me. I wasn’t the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd, win your freedom.” Proximo says smiling now. He can tell now that Nagamasa is about to show him what he can truly do.

  “I will win the crowd. I will give them something they have never seen before.” Nagamasa says a spark of life coming back to him. Oh to stand before the young Oda lord, the one that betrayed him, that killed the man he would have called father. To stand before him only for a second and get the chance to kill him.

  “Hai! So, Hitori, we shall go to Rome together and have bloody adventures and the great whore will suckle us until we are fat and happy and can suckle no more. And then, when enough men have died, perhaps you will have your freedom. Here, use this… .” he says and tosses a piece of body armor; it is bright red with the engraving of two horses on there back legs facing each other.

  Nagamasa bows and leaves to join his fellow slaves. It is not long before he finds his place at a fire. But he doesn’t take it; instead he sees that the half orc Juba is sitting at the edge of the arena staring into the sky. Nagamasa walks over and sits next to him but says nothing.

  “It is somewhere out there, my country, my home. My wife is preparing food. My daughters carry water from the river. Will I ever see them again? I think not.” Juba says and lowers his head.

  “Do you believe that you will see them again when you die?” Nagamasa asks his voice calm

  “I think so, but then, I will die soon. They will not die for many years. I will have to wait.” Juba says looking at him now.

  “But you would… wait?” Nagamasa asks smiling knowing the answer.

  “Of course.” Juba says almost insulted.

  “You see, my family are already waiting for me,” He says sure that his brother Byrdi has already met his fate at the hands of Commodus

  “You will meet them again. But not yet. Not yet.” He says and smiles at his new friend.

  “Not yet. Not yet.” He says to himself knowing that he wants his vengeance before he must fall.

  On the road to Rome, the wagon carrying the gladiators rolls along while children run to the side of the road to witness the caravan. In the distant, Rome and the Colosseum. As their wagon pulls into the gladiator school, the guard opens the wagon gates and they disembark, gazing in awe at the Colosseum. Proximo walks up to the statue of Mars, kissing his hand and then planting the kiss on the feet of the statue.

  “Good to see you again, old friend… . Bring me fortune.” Proximo says looking up at the statue like an old friend.

  The gladiators stare up at the Colosseum.

  “Did you ever see anything like that before? I didn’t know man could build such things.” Juba says looking up in fear of the colosseum

  “Win the crowd.” Proximo says walking up to Nagamasa smiling at him now.

  Nagamasa looks up at the colosseum with a mix of emotions. Something so huge so grand he can’t help but feel fear as well. But this to him is a great thing to see, for seeing this means he is that much closer to his enemy.

  Commodus is standing over the sleeping Lucius studying him as he sleeps. Maeraer walks up fear prickling at her. She knows she cannot trust her son with Commodus

  “He sleeps so well because he is loved.” Commodus says and smiles down at the child

  “Come brother, it is late.” Maeraer says gently putting her hand on Commodus and leading him away from her son.

  The two of them walk for a bit and soon find themselves in his office. He looks around and like his sister he remembers their father in this office. How many times did he walk up to his father in the middle of the night only to find his father still sitting at the desk working over the scrolls given to him by the senators?

  “I will make Rome the wonder of the ages. That is what Gracchus and his friends don’t understand. All my desires are splitting my head into pieces.” Commodus says sitting at the desk now and hanging his head in his hands.

  “Commodus, drink this tonic.” Maeraer says and hands him a goblet of wine slowly pouring some kind of powder in it.

  “I think the time is almost right? I could announce the dissolution of the senate in celebration of our father. Do you think I should… are the people are ready?” Commodus asks looking at his sister.

  Maeraer is shocked at the idea of dissolving the senate in honor of their father since it was her father that wanted to bring the power back to the senate. He just doesn’t get it. He wants all the power but has no idea what that will do to him or the society that her father had built.

  “I think you need your rest now.” She says and smiles at him insisting he takes the goblet from her.

  “Will you stay with me?” Commodus asks gently taking the goblet from her.

  “Still afraid of the dark, brother?” Maeraer asks looking over at him now. Seeing him like this, so weak and so afraid, it is almost hard to think he is the cunning, unfeeling demon she knows to be her fathers apprentice.

  “Still? Always. Stay with me tonight?” Commodus says and takes a deep drink of the wine.

  “You know I won’t.” She says and gently strokes his cheek. She knows him better then that. If she were to stay with him then he would try to be intimate with her and she cannot allow that.

  “Then kiss me.” Commodus says looking up at Maeraer with sorrow.

  “Sleep, brother.” Maeraer says gently kissing him on the forehead and then walks out of the office.

  As gladiators are taken to the Colosseum, they walk through the crowded streets; shackled together, beautiful prostitutes throw their arms around them, whispering in their ears as they pass. Nagamasa, with a look of embarrassment and amusement, walk past them. Outside the Colosseum, crowds are

  Betting and posting their marks on a chalkboard. Proximo & Cassius discuss the upcoming fight.

  “The Emperor wants battles and I don’t want to sacrifice my best fighters.” Proximo says pointing at the chalkboard where he is marked to fight

  “The crowd wants battles so the Emperor gives them battles. You get the battle of Carthage.” Cassius says glaring at him. He is infuriated at the fact that Proximo thinks he so much better that he can contradict the line up.

  “The massacre of Carthage! Why don’t you get the beggars and thieves from the prison?” Proximo says snarling at him.

  “We’ve done that,” he says growling at Cassius now.

  “If you’re going to give away the best gladiators in the empire, then I want double the rates.” Proximo says shaking his head now.

  “You will get your contract rates or you will get your contract canceled. If you don’t like it, you can crawl back down that shit hole that you came from.” Cassius says folding his arms now. The rates are set, the contracts are set and that is that.

  As the
two men argue about the rates and the match young Lucius is walking along the cells where the gladiators are placed on display for the crowd’s inspection. Lucius stops in front of Proximo’s group and motions to Nagamasa, where he is seated at the back of his cell. With a glint of surprise and curiosity, Nagamasa rises and moves toward Lucius, placing his hands on the bars, leaning down towards the boy.

  “Gladiator, are you the one they call Hitori?”

  “Yes.” Nagamasa says humoring the child.

  “They said you were a giant. They said you could crush a man’s skull with one hand.” Lucius says looking him over a bit disappointed now.

  “Man’s? No. A boy’s.” Nagamasa says and flexing his hand teasing young Lucius.

  “They have good horses where you’re from?” Lucius says pointing to the two horses on his chest piece of armor.

  “Some of the best. This is Argento. This is Scarto they were my horses. They were taken from me.” Nagamasa says smiling and pointing to each horse on the armor.

  “I like you, Hitori. I shall cheer for you.” Lucius says and smiles at him enjoying

  “They let you watch the games?” Nagamasa says shocked that he would watch such a bloody sport at so young.

  “My uncle says it makes me strong.” Lucius says holding his chin up in pride.

  “And what does your father say?” Nagamasa says sure that it if were his son he would never let him watch.

  “My father is dead.” Lucius says lowering his head in sorrow.

  “Master Lucius, it is time.” A servant says walking up to the child now.

  “I have to go.” Lucius says turning his back to the gladiator.

  “Your name is Lucius?” Nagamasa says shocked at the name. He once knew a soldier by that name.

  “Lucius Verus. After my father.” Lucius says and walks away with the servant. It is time to go meet his uncle and take his seat in the Colosseum.

  Lucius Verus, he knows that man. He was a soldier under his command. He was strong and fierce and had a thing for Maeraer, could this be her child, he said his uncle, that could only mean Commodus. Though they were not related Commodus was taken as an aprentice when they were vary young so they have considered themselves siblings for almost they’re entire life.

  Once Proximo is done haggling with Cassius sadly with no results he takes his gladiators into the depths of the colosseum where they can prepare for their coming fight. In the bowels of the Colosseum. As one team of gladiators descends on the platform lift, Proximo’s gladiators are selecting helmets and receiving spears. Nagamasa selects an ominous mask-like helmet that covers his face leaving his eyes to pierce through. The head gladiator calls out instructions before they enter the arena.

  “When the Emperor enters, raise your weapons, salute him and then speak together. Face the Lord Oda; don’t turn your back on him. Go and die with honor.” The lead gladiator says looking over the group.

  Nagamasa takes a deep breath as the gladiators enter the arena. Trumpets are heard. The crowd is cheering madly. The gladiators look up, amazed at the overwhelming size of the arena and crowd. The crowd calls out, “Oda, Oda, Oda”. The gladiators position themselves in front of the Lord Oda,

  “We who are about to die, salute you”. They all shout to him and salute with their weapons, all but one gladiator who refuses to make such a salute

  Once the crowd calms down an announcer steps up front on the higher areas of the colosseum he clears his throat and begins to set the stage for the coming battle just as Commodus wanted.

  “On this day we reach back to hallowed antiquity to bring you a recreation of a second Fall of Mighty Carthage. On the barren straits of Zama, there stood the invincible armies of the Vandales Hannibal. Ferocious mercenaries and warriors from all brute nations bent on merciless destruction conquest. Your emperor is pleased to give you THE BARBARIAN HORDE!” The announcer says and gestures to Nagamasa and his group of gladiators.

  As this is all going on Nagamasa positions himself in front of the gladiators. He is a general and has fallen into his old roll again.

  “Anyone here been in the army?” Nagamasa says looking around at the men.

  “Yes” One of the fighters, says getting closer to him.

  “I served with you in Vindobona.” Another soldier says remembering his former general.

  “You can help me. Whatever comes out of these gates, we have a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? We stay together, we survive.” Nagamasa says taking a deep breath.

  “And now the Legionnaires of Scipio Aricanus” Cassius shouts to a thunderous applause.

  The legionnaires barrel into the arena on their glorious chariots. As they ride in they shout from the Legionnaires can be heard as they immediately begin to

  Kill the “Barbarians”.

  “Come together… lock your shields, stay as one… hold… hold as

  One”. Nagamasa shouts getting his men into a defendable position.

  One of the legionnaires shouts as he passes and tosses a spear. The spear however just glances off the shields as they lock together

  “Well done” Nagamasa shouts as they successfully defend themselves from the uneven attack.

  As a chariot heads towards them, Nagamasa is heard calling out as they huddle together

  “Hold. Diamond, diamond.” Nagamasa shouts getting his men into a new formation.

  The Barbarians move towards the chariot as it approaches and with that maneuver, the chariot is overturned and the Legionnaires are

  Sent flying to their death. The crowd cheers uncontrollably. Hagen gets an arrow to the calf and unknowingly stands in the

  Way of a charging chariot. Nagamasa calls out to him, then runs and knocks him out of the way, saving his life. Without

  Hesitation, Nagamasa continues to call out orders,

  “This column to the chariot. This column stay with me.” Nagamasa calls out and climbs upon one of the chariot horses that has been freed from the harness

  He then rides with the chariots, attacking the Legionnaires one by one until most have been disabled or killed. The roar of Nagamasa’s attack can be heard and he strikes the Legionnaires. All the while, Commodus sits on his throne, clearly enjoying himself like a child. His mouth falls open and his tongue laps the air. He tosses his head side to side, laughing in glee. On the arena floor, Hagen is back in place, fighting the Legionnaires. As Nagamasa rides, Juba cries out to Nagamasa as he tosses him one of the Legionnaires’ swords. Catching the sword, Nagamasa continues to call orders to the Barbarians,

  “Single column, single column…” He shouts from atop his horse as they successfully attack and kill the remaining Legionnaires.

  Having won the battle, Nagamasa is seen magnificently atop the white horse, sword raised in triumph as the cheers from the Barbarians and crowd explode.

  As the crowd cheers and shouts there approval Commodus signals to Cassis to him and leans toward him surprised at the outcome of the match.

  “My history’s a little hazy Cassius, but aren’t the Barbarians supposed to lose the battle of Carthage!!” he said and smiles at Cassius

  “Yes, Sire. Forgive me, Sire.” Cassius says worried that his life might vary well be forfeit cause of this mistake.

  “No, I rather enjoy surprises. Who is that?” Commodus says pointing to Nagamasa who is just now getting off the horse as a guard takes the reins from him.

  “They call him the Hitori, Sire.” Cassius says and takes a deep sigh of relief.

  “I think I’ll meet him.” Commodus says and stands up.

  “Yes, Sire.” Cassius says and takes his leave quickly while he still has his head.

  A few minutes later on the arena floor, Praetorian enters and the gladiators stand ready to defend themselves.

  �
�Drop your weapons.” The leader of the praetorian says growling at Nagamasa

  Nagamasa nods to the gladiators and they drop their weapons. Even the Praetorian is shocked at the loyalty that he commands in such a short span of time.

  “Gladiator, the Lord Oda has asked for you.” The leader says pointing over at Nagamasa

  “I’m at the Emperor’s service.” His eyes lighting up with glee, he never thought his chance would come this quickly.

  Commodus enters the arena. Nagamasa eyes an arrow in the dirt amongst the bloodied debris, kneels to pick it up. The gladiators follow Nagamasa’s action and also kneel.

  “Rise, rise.” Commodus says still laughing at the fight he has just seen.

  Lucius enters behind Commodus and Nagamasa looks disappointed. He does not want to attempt an attack on Commodus with the boy so close.

  “Your fame is well deserved, Hitori. I don’t think there has been a gladiator to match you, as for this young man, he insists you are Hector reborn, or was it Hercules. Why doesn’t the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name. You do have a name… ?” He says taking Lucius by his shoulder.

  “My name is gladiator.” Nagamasa says and turns around beginning to walk back to the others.

  “How dare you show your back to me, SLAVE. You will remove your helmet and tell me your name.” Commodus says snarling at him

  The Praetorian take a ready-stand, and the gladiators, without weapons, move forward ready to fight with Nagamasa. Nagamasa stops, takes a deep breath, removes his helmet, and turns to face Commodus.

  “My name is Nagamasa Hitori Unagi. Commander of the armies of the North, general of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true Lord Oda, and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next.”

  Seeing Nagamasa throws Commodus into shock and panic. Quintus stands ready for battle. Commodus stumbles in his actions, slightly turning to Quintus as though seeking help. Quintus orders “Arms” and the Praetorian pull their swords. Meanwhile, at Lord’s box, Maeraer has risen to her feet in disbelieving the sight of Nagamasa and relieved that he is still alive.