Praetorian Series [4] All Roads Lead to Rome

by Edward Crichton

  “The problem,” Alex Cuyler started, sitting on his haunches and leaning against a wall, “is that this was originally a rescue and reconnaissance operation. Save Jacob and gather intel on Agrippina for when Galba showed up and…”

  “… and,” James interrupted, “something tells you it’s not going to be that easy with a nine foot tall god shagging Agrippina every night, am I right?”

  Alex didn’t answer. I guess he didn’t need to.

  “Then what do we do?” I asked, probably the only one in the room willing to ask since my role in whatever we decided would likely be negligible.

  “We stick to the plan.”

  The voice was Helena’s, even though I hadn’t seen her return yet, but when I turned my head I saw her push through the curtain with Titus just behind her. I looked at him but immediately wished I hadn’t, as his downtrodden face was all the evidence I needed to suggest that Helena had already told him about Vincent. His face was hard, his mouth turned downward, and his eyes cast directly at his feet as he followed Helena, and he didn’t look up to greet anyone.

  For our part, no one stepped up to welcome him either.

  “Just like that then?” John challenged but then he immediately sighed. “Look, Helena, this is fucking Remus we’re talking about here. I mean… I shouldn’t believe it. There’s absolutely no reason I should. Everything tells me not to believe it. But I do. My first goddamned instinct is to believe it. That nine foot tall guy we all saw is Remus… and for all I know he really is a god. Who the hell knows anymore?”

  Helena moved deeper into the room but stayed out of the garden, crossing her arms while Titus stepped up beside her. She opened her mouth to speak but then a new voice spoke up.

  “Which makes it even less likely that Jacob is still alive…”

  It was Archer’s. Of course it was Archer’s.

  I shot to my feet angrily and searched for him, finding him in a doorway that led to one of the numerous back rooms. He leaned against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets, and his left foot propped up by its toe behind his right leg. The casual way he was standing there sent me into a bit of a rage, and I moved toward him, my index finger flinging out in his direction.

  “You don’t get to say that!” I yelled, only a few steps away before I was close enough to punch him, but I was pulled back by Alex, who had moved from his nearby corner to intercept me. I struggled against him as I found myself falling deeper into a frenzy. “If not for you, we wouldn’t even be here! Jacob wouldn’t be here! Everything would have been different!”

  “Artie…” the voice again was Helena’s.

  “No!” I yelled, whirling around to face Helena now. “Months ago you would have killed Archer for even suggesting that! Where’s that anger now? Where’s that passion to rescue Jacob, no matter what stands in your way?”

  “Artie…” Helena said again, shaking her head for a moment before stepping through the garden to stand in front of me. She placed her hands on my arms and looked at me, her face, surprisingly, full of support. “You happened to me, Artie. You convinced me that cooler heads will prevail. I’ve in no way given up but I’ve learned to control the recklessness. I thought that you would have had it under control from the very beginning…”

  I sniffled, but there were no tears, just more anger. “I guess I’m pretty good at hiding how I fell about things.”

  She almost smiled. “If only Jacob was so good at…”

  Another interruption broke in.

  “Except,” Titus said from his original position, “Archer may be correct. Jacob Hunter may be dead.”

  Helena turned, her eyes no longer compassionate, but burning the same as mine. “What?”

  “I saw him,” Titus answered. “Weeks ago. He and Agrippina were not difficult to notice, so I tracked them. He seemed very different when I first attempted to make contact, extremely volatile, agitated, distracted, so I kept my distance. And then he disappeared the first time.”

  “Disappeared?” I asked.

  “The first time?” Asked Helena.

  “Yes. One afternoon, he simply disappeared when he was attacked by a woman who seemed as large and strong as Bordeaux.”

  I looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. Boudicca maybe? Had she actually found Jacob and fulfilled her promise to protect him?

  “What happened?” Helena demanded. “Exactly.”

  Titus shrugged. “He and Agrippina were circling the Palatine Hill. Nothing seemed odd although I did not know why. At one point, Jacob Hunter fell to the ground and struggled for almost a minute just to rise to his feet, but I couldn’t determine why it had been so difficult. Seconds later, he seemed to see something where nothing was. He then vacated the area but returned soon later, heavily burdened by gear and weaponry. He then stepped toward his spot of interest, and then the woman attacked him and they disappeared. Eleven days later, he returned, but he wasn’t alone.”

  “The woman,” I asked, “did she have bright red hair?”

  “She did,” Titus confirmed. “But he returned with others as well. Agrippina was with him, although I hadn’t noticed her disappear. Once Jacob Hunter had disappeared, she immediately left the scene, and I never saw her return, although I wasn’t able to watch the area at all hours of the day. I was lucky to have caught their return at all.”

  “Let me guess,” John started. “Remus was the other guy.”

  “Yes, although I did not know who he was at the time. I was too frightened by his appearance to even consider it.”

  “What happened next?” Helena asked.

  “The second disappearance. Jacob Hunter, Remus, Agrippina, and the other woman disappeared again with a large contingent of Praetorians. When they returned, they appeared atop the hill, and while I was only able to see them from a distance, I knew he and the other woman weren’t with them.”

  “You’re certain?” Helena asked.

  He nodded.

  “Then how did they return?” I asked. “It seems likely that Agrippina needed Jacob for all this time jumping, maybe even parallel world hopping, so how were they able to return without him.”

  “There were two other people that returned with Remus and Agrippina instead…” Titus started before trailing off, as though nervous about what he was going to say next.

  “Who?”

  It didn’t matter who said it exactly, because I think just about everyone in the room had uttered it in tandem.

  “Two men,” Titus finally continued. “One was an elderly man who appeared quite frail. The other was a man who appeared a twin to Remus. He… I think he was his twin. I think Remus returned with his brother, Romulus.”

  Silence.

  Lots of silence.

  Then John broke it. “This shit just keep piling up…”

  Helena also broke the silence. “Titus, I want you to think very clearly. Are you telling us that both Romulus and Remus are here? Both have traveled from the past and into our present?”

  “I believe so. Although I cannot understand why only Remus revealed himself today. Too much does not make sense.”

  “You’re telling me,” James and John both said.

  “So who was the old man?” Archer asked from behind me.

  Titus shrugged. “I never could learn…”

  The answer came to me almost immediately. “Merlin!”

  Helena looked at me. “It can’t be Merlin. For all we know, Merlin doesn’t even exist. He could have just been a dream of Jacob’s because of the or…”

  “No, not that Merlin,” I said. “The Merlin Romulus and Remus knew. From Jacob’s story. What was his name? Their shepherd father?”

  “Faustulus,” Alex supplied immediately.

  I nodded my thanks. “Right! Faustulus. He…”

  “Artie…” Helena interrupted. “I don’t think he can help us. Even if it is the same person, as unlikely as that is, he’s not the Merlin that helped Jacob. He’s from a time seven hundred years in the past. He wouldn’t even
recognize Jacob and I can’t imagine how he could help us.”

  “Oh…” I let out, totally disappointed. I thought I’d been on to something there.

  “Still,” Helena said with a deep breath. “Perhaps he can be of some help. I have to think that Romulus was brought here against his will, Faustulus probably as well, so maybe we can use that. But I think that’s enough for now. I still think we should stick to the original plan. Snatch Agrippina tonight and press her for information. Maybe then we can see about this Faustulus character. Let’s take a few hours to rest before we reconvene to formulate a plan. Gaius should be back by then.”

  Those gathered didn’t need to be told twice, and dispersed quickly.

  I turned back to Helena. “I’m glad you’re taking charge here Helena. Really. It can’t be easy. Jacob will be proud.”

  “I hope so…” she said.

  “I know so.” I yawned, suddenly tired. “Well, I guess I’d better get some rest. I want to be sharp for the briefing and the mission ton…”

  Helena’s expression interrupted me, a mix of immediate apology and severe disproval. “Diana, you’re not coming.”

  “But I can help!” I exclaimed. “All of you have taught me so much. I can be a spotter…”

  “Artie, think about what you’re saying. You’ve picked up a few skills, maybe, but you’re not meant for this. You know you’re not.”

  My lips tightened in frustration, but try as I did, I couldn’t think of a way to argue myself into the operation. Helena was totally right. All I’d do is slow them down and endanger their lives. Just another useless, stupid little girl who’d get in the way. Nothing to do and…

  “Hey…” Helena said soothingly. “I know that look. Trust me, I’ve seen it a lot. Don’t blame yourself or think that you’re useless. You’re not. You have other roles to play, just not this one. Don’t let it eat you up inside.”

  I nodded. “Thanks.”

  She returned the nod. “You’re welcome. I’ve had a lot of practice at this sort of thing…”

  I looked up and let a small smile form on my lips. “He’s worse than me, though, right?

  She grinned and put a hand on my shoulder. “Way worse. And much crankier. Don’t worry about a thing, Artie. Rest and take it easy. By the time you wake up in the morning, we’ll have everything we need from Agrippina, and, with luck, maybe we’ll find Jacob at the same time.

  ***

  Sleep was good. Sleep was great. Sleep was exactly what I’d needed, a commodity I’d seen little of in recent months as stress and extreme fatigue and soreness had often kept me awake long into the night. But not tonight. Tonight was a blissful night, full of comfort, reassurance, and the idea that perhaps all this would be over soon. Thoughts of Remus and orbs and Agrippina had hardly entered my mind as I put myself to sleep while the others had outlined their battle strategy.

  I’d stuck around for the initial proceedings, watching with interest as John went to work outlining their infiltration objectives and mission parameters, using lingo, jargon, colloquialisms, and macho-idiotic slang so indicative of military culture that the same words had apparently bridged two parallel realities. TJ, Georgia, Alex, and Archer had nodded at their use, as though knowing exactly what John was talking about, while their meaning flew way over my head, things like: Howcopy, AO, breach, bang, and clear, HVT, lima charlie, klick, and far, far worse. Once they’d gone on to discuss weaponry and how each member would utilize individual pieces, focusing on all-too specific information like calibers, grain sizes, and whatnot, I’d been about ready to collapse from exhaustion. I’d yawned loudly, causing their proceedings to stop completely while they all turned to glare at me. I’d backed away in embarrassment, left the room, found my bed, and fell asleep the moment my head impacted the surprisingly comfortable feather pillow waiting for me.

  I’d hoped to wake up late in the morning, perhaps early afternoon, and be welcomed by a bounty of information on where to go from here or even by Jacob himself. I hadn’t wanted to dwell on that possibility, possible though it may be, because I would have never fallen asleep.

  So I hadn’t, and I’d slept blissfully, enjoying every second of it.

  For about four hours.

  Mere seconds ago, I awoke from my once restful sleep like a meerkat sensing danger, because danger seemed the only explanation for the clamor that had interrupted my rest. After a quick check of my watch, confirming my fear that it was only two in the morning, I got to my feet, pulled on my pants, stuffed my arms into the sleeves of a grungy jacket, and rushed from my room, just in time to see a swarm of black clad interlopers storming into the atrium. They seemed rushed, frantic, swarming through the small entranceway at the front of our building. They were quiet, eerily so, which only made their quickened manner all the more confusing. One or two of them seemed hurt, supported by one or two of the others, and one even seemed unconscious, carried over the shoulder by Jeanne, easily identifiable despite his clothing that concealed his identity. But I could tell they weren’t being pursued, as even I would expect them to set up defensive positions had they been.

  And then I noticed an anomaly among the group. Held between two of my friends, their faces concealed but their size suggesting maybe John and possibly TJ, was a man of above average height, wearing loose fitting trousers and a tunic, his feet bare, and his head covered by a burlap sack. My friends manhandled the man through the atrium’s inner garden, past where I stood, and through a side door that led to an inner room with no windows and a thick wooden door that locked from the outside: the interrogation room.

  The others pooled into the atrium as well, most pulling off their facemasks once the man had been escorted from the room, all appearing quite grim. Some stopped to rest while others retreated deeper into the building and out of sight. Only one of them approached me, one with a tall, slender frame and the obvious gait of a woman. Helena pulled off her mask, her face just as grim as the others’, her attention wandering, and I immediately knew something was wrong. My first thought was that something had happened to John, but that was impossible. Nothing could hurt Johnathon “Archie” Santino. I tried to count how many bodies had entered the building, wondering if we’d lost someone, but I hadn’t been counting.

  I looked back at Helena. “What happened? Is everyone okay?”

  “We’re fine,” she reported, her eyes unfocused, her face appearing dazed. “No casualties.”

  “So what happened? Who was that guy? I thought the plan was to interrogate Agrippina on sight.”

  “What happened?” Helena echoed, apparently uninterested or incapable of intelligible conversation at the moment.

  While she didn’t seem concussed or incoherent, she seemed very confused. I reached out and gripped her arms. I didn’t think she needed to be physically steadied, but it couldn’t hurt. I moved my head low so that I could position it in the direction she was looking, and forced eye contact. “Helena. What happened?”

  She finally looked at me, her glowing green eyes wide and almost afraid.

  “What happened?” She said again. “Merlin happened.”

  ***

  Helena, John, Gaius, and Archer stood just outside the heavy wooden door that led to the tiny interrogation room while I stood behind a small peephole carved into the door. Peering inside, I stared at a rail thin man seated on one of two chairs, his head still covered and his hands tied behind his back and secured to the chair. I backed away and let the circular cover slide into place over the peephole and turned back to the others.

  “You’re sure he can’t hear us?”

  Archer nodded. “We stuffed earplugs into his ears and then covered them with Jeanne’s Peltor earmuffs. The guy couldn’t hear an explosion in the next room over.”

  “Good,” I said, suddenly nervous. “So what happened?”

  “Everything was going fine,” John picked up. “We’d infiltrated Agrippina’s residence quickly, quietly, and all ninja-like. Everything was going fine. We knew
the building’s floor plan, knew where all the key players were bunked, and banked the whole operation on the fact that Remus has been seen spending his late nights elsewhere. We didn’t run across a single soul, not a servant, slave, or assistant burning the late night oil… until we ran into this guy.”

  John punctuated his statement by sticking out his pointer finger and pressing it directly against the heavy wooden door.

  “Merlin?” I asked, risking a glance at Helena, who still seemed distracted.

  John flicked his eyebrows up and looked away with a small sigh as he tapped on the door. “Apparently, although we didn’t know that until a few minutes later. The lot of us were stacked up perfectly down a long hallway, all tactical, ready to blow holes in Agrippina’s door and shake her down, when suddenly he appeared behind us, right in the middle of the hall. We dropped night vision and trained lights on him, Georgia and Marcus moving in to subdue him, but he wasn’t having none of that. He flicked them off him like a pair of ticks, not bad for a scrawny dude. They have minor concussions, but it was Titus who got the rotten end of the deal when the butt of Georgia’s rifle clipped him in the head. He went dark immediately. Wang says he’ll be fine, but that poor kid just can’t catch a break it seems.”

  “Then what?” I asked.

  This time, Archer answered. “He surrendered.”

  I looked at him, confused. “He surrendered?”

  “With one condition,” he clarified.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You.”

  My head jerked back. “Me? How does he even know who I am? How do you even know who he is?”

  “He told us,” Archer answered quickly, “and we have no idea how he knows who you are, but… but that’s not all he knows.”

  I wasn’t sure I could look more confused. “What else does he know?”

  “The baby.” It was Helena who answered, and I whirled around to look at her.