by Ted Mayes
Annales Imperii – I: Ostia
by
Ted Mayes
Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.
To, and for, my beautiful bride.
Editor's Preface
We wish to express our deepest thanks to the Imperial family for allowing us some access to private family documents that shed great light on the founding of the Empire. Without those documents, all we would have would be rumors, gossip and fragmentary stories about the first great leap outwards. We hope that additional documents, and volumes, will soon continue the story. We also wish to express our thanks to the translators who provided this English translation for English speaking worlds and colonies. If you wish to read this text in another language, please contact your local book store.
1 – June 1993
She sat on a low stone wall, momentarily defeated even though it was early in the day, staring up at the towers and arches that were out of bounds to her. She'd like to be able to at least make an appeal for her sister, but she had no idea how to get inside this place called 'Ostia' or who to see about making that appeal. She looked around at the open area in front of the gates. From time to time, buses – or perhaps the same bus – would pull up in front of the arches, unload a number of passengers, and then leave. The passengers would line up, show something to the guards at the gate, and then continue on into the … resort, city, whatever it was. She couldn't get the guards to talk to her, and the passengers were acting as if they knew no English. Her sister didn't have much time left, and she had to try this one last hope.
She glanced at the arches again and this time saw something unusual – someone was coming out rather than going in. She looked again and felt a twinge of hope, because the person looked familiar. She bounced up and moved towards him. “Jon? Is that really you?”
“Beth! How have you been doing since the end of camp last summer?”
“Okay in some ways, not so good in others.” They had spent most of last summer being counselors at a church camp, and had at least gotten to be friends. She might have been interested in seeing if they could have been something more – and she thought he might have been interested, too, but they had both been dating other people. “Can you get me in there?” She pointed at the gates.
His face changed slightly, becoming more guarded. “Possibly. Why do you want to go in?”
She took a deep breath before she started into a shortened version of the appeal she had prepared. “My older sister, Becky, who I think I told you about at camp...” she got a nod from him before continuing, “... gave birth to a beautiful baby girl three months ago – and then two months ago was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She has two little kids, and only a few weeks left to live, according to the doctor.” She took another deep breath. “Her doctor happened to mention that he knew of only one person who had survived her situation, and she'd been treated at the hospital out here. So I came to try and see if anyone would be willing to help us.” She waited a few moments while he was quiet, apparently thinking furiously. “I'd do anything to help my sister and get a cure for her!”
Jon looked at her intently. “It might be possible, but you may need to do some serious thinking. You say you'll do anything, but would you be willing to make a radical change that would affect the next twenty years, or the rest of your life?”
She had to stop and think for just a moment, because Jon certainly sounded serious. “Well, except for immoral and illegal things, I'd be willing to make any kind of change to my life, if it would save my sister and get rid of the heartache my family is going through now!”
Jon nodded and looked around at the gate. The latest group of passengers had moved out of sight. “Okay, here's the possibility. Your sister can't be treated here normally because the facility is only for Imperial security, citizens, army, that kind of stuff. They normally wouldn't let you in today because they're going to be processing a new batch of recruits. Well, I think I can get you in, and I think I can find someone to listen to you, but I have no idea what would happen after that.”
She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the arches. “Well, let's get going! What's the worst that could happen to me?”
He laughed. “Depends on what you think is 'worst'. They may just tell you to get out – or you might find yourself signed up for basic training.”
They walked toward the arches and the guards standing there. Not walking any longer hand in hand, Jon was telling her that the entrance was modeled after the entrance to a Roman fort. Getting closer, he pulled a small card out of his pocket and handed it to the guard, and spoke. “Sum patronus: haec meam clientam est.”
The guard glanced at the card, looked at Jon, and then handed the card back. With a questioning look on his face, the guard asked, “Esne voluntarius?”
“Sic est,” Jon answered.
“Ah, magna accomodatio venit!”
“Vero!” The guard waved them into the gate as Beth was trying to figure out what had just happened.
“What was that all about, and what were you two saying? And what was that card you showed him?”
Jon chuckled. “What were we saying? If they turn you down, you won't need to worry about it, and if they decide to accept you, you'll know soon enough. And the card? Well, my Dad works here and so I was able to use my ID card to get you in.”
They finally reached the end of the gateway and Beth could see a broad boulevard for pedestrians ahead while two matching buildings were on their right and left. It was a scene of some confusion, with the passengers who had been dropped off by the buses gathering around the building on the left. The noise level was fairly high with, apparently, several different languages being spoken. Jon, though, was guiding her towards the building on the right, muttering “If he's in, you'll have the best chance talking to him.”
Entering the building cut off the noise from the street outside and Beth could see a wide, comfortable waiting area surrounded by offices, some occupied and some dark and empty. Jon moved quickly over to an occupied office at the corner and motioned for her to follow him. “Chaplain, do you have a moment or two?”
Looking past Jon's shoulder, Beth could see a middle-aged man behind a desk with a wall of books behind him. She followed Jon through the door as he was saying, “Certainly, Jonathan, especially today ...” The man broke off speaking when he saw her, and one eyebrow rose as he looked at Jon. “And this is …?”
“Miss Bethany Jordan. Are you recording, sir?”
The surprised look grew stronger. “You think it necessary?”
“At least it would be appropriate, sir.”
“In that case, Sarah, record” he said to no one in sight, then added, “ad imperatorem, statim.” He stood up and motioned Beth to a chair, saying, “Won't you please sit down, Miss Jordan. Considering the day, young man, you might as well start standing.” Jon stood very straight, feet apart and hands behind his back. “Now, Master Harrison, what are you and the young lady doing here?”
“Sir, I met Miss Jordan last summer, when she and I were both counselors at church camp. I saw her outside a little while ago and she seemed disturbed. When I heard her problem, I claimed her as a client, and as her patron, brought her in. I brought her to you, sir, because I hoped you would hear her request.”
The chaplain was quiet for a moment, then spoke, again to no one, “Sarah, the relevant laws about patron and client, to my portfolio.” Then he turned to Beth. “And what is your story, Miss Jordan?”
Beth was a little intimidated, especially since Jon was still standing there like a statue. She tried, though, to explain her sister's problem as earnestly as she could but without the despairing emotions that seemed almost overwhelming.
&nbs
p; When she was done, she simply sat and looked at the chaplain. He seemed to be listening to something before he said, “Yes, sir. Should I ask the First of the First to step over? Yes, sir. Sarah, please ask the First of the First and his optio to step over here now, emperor's orders.” He looked over at Jon. “Things weren't busy enough today, Jon? You know, right now you remind me of your father in his younger days.”
Jon grinned quickly, then resumed his sober face. “Thank you, sir, although he might not like hearing that right now.”
Beth was surprised to see the chaplain wink at Jon with a wide smile on his face. “I wouldn't worry too much about it. He said he had one more person to check with about the situation.” Then he began looking at something in a portfolio lying on his desk.
If she'd had more time, she would have wondered what all that was about, but before she could even think of a question, two more men were in the office, one of them carefully listening to something. That one finally looked around as he was saying “Yes, sir. I can't see any problem from this end. I'll report back to you in a few minutes.” The older man who had five stripes on his arm glanced at Jon, then nodded to the man with only two stripes on his arm. “That's him, Charlie. Get him a haircut and into a basic uniform ASAP. While that's happening, get a vehicle from the motor pool out front and be ready to drive us. Bring him back here as quick as you can. Move it, double-time.”
Before Beth could react, Charlie had unleashed a stream of extremely loud commands at Jon and the two of them had disappeared, first from the office and then from the building. The older man, at a graceful gesture from the chaplain, sat down and turned to Beth. “May I ask you a few questions, Miss?”
At Beth's nod, the older man, who introduced himself as Centurion Jackson, began asking more than just a few questions. She found herself informing the men that she was 17, was about to enter her senior year of high school, had played soccer and volleyball on her high school teams and had been a cheerleader for two years. She found herself reporting on her grades, her church, the summer she spent as a camp counselor and repeating the story of her sister's problems. When the centurion ran out of questions, she was very thankful.
“Now the time has come for a serious decision from you,” the centurion finally said. “The medical procedures you want for your sister are only available to members of the imperial forces – or members of their immediate family. The only way for you to get those services right now for your sister would be for you to volunteer for the imperial forces.”
“Oh,” she said thoughtfully, “that's what Jon meant by a 'radical change.'” It took only a few seconds to reach a decision, and she looked up at the two men in the room. “I told Jon that I would do almost anything to help my sister. If you'll take me, I'll sign up.”
There were smiles on the faces of the two men. “I think we'll be happy to have you, Miss.” The centurion turned his head to the chaplain. “Patron and client?”
The chaplain smiled. “It seems the law needs some updating and clarification. I believe the emperor will watch this … experiment … with interest before that section of the law is allowed to be used by any one else.” Then the chaplain turned to Beth. “I believe that now you should step out into the commons and call your parents and let them know what you've been doing so far today. The centurion will, I believe, take you home and meet with your parents and answer their questions, because you will not be accepted without their permission. Also I'm friends with your pastor, so I'm going to have the centurion pick him up for the meeting as well.”
At the chaplain's nod, Beth went out of the office in something of a daze because things had been moving so fast. She dialed her Mom's number, trying to get her thoughts in order. She was actually relieved when her mother answered, and the words poured out, where she was, what had been happening, the chance of getting the saving treatment for her sister, the need for her enlistment, the need for her parent's permission, the meeting to answer her parents' questions.
When Beth was done talking, both she and her mother were quiet for a while. Then her mother said, “Your father's at work, but I'm sure he can get off for a little bit for this meeting. I'll tell you right now that we will have questions, especially about your going into what sounds like an army. But you say that they could save your sister, and I know how close you are to Becky. Well, let's wait and see what these people have to say when they get here. We love you, sweetheart. See you soon.”
Beth ended the call and, seeing motion at the corner of her eye, turned toward the door. Jon was standing there, now with much shorter hair and dressed in a uniform made of some kind of gray cloth. He winked at her but otherwise made no move. She moved over to him and whispered, “What are you doing?”
He murmured quietly, “I'm waiting here at parade rest until the centurion or someone else has orders for me.”
She looked at him briefly, then stood next to him, as close to parade rest as she could get. “If this is what I'm getting myself into, I guess I'd better practice as well.” They stood quietly for several minutes, and Beth tried to stand as still as she could. The two-striper whom she'd seen with the centurion entered the building, and as he caught sight of the two of them standing there, she was almost sure she'd seen a small smile appear and then vanish from his face. He entered the chaplain's office and soon reappeared, following the centurion, who came over to examine them, minutely. She saw from the corner of her eye that Jon remained motionless, and she tried to do the same, as best she could.
Finally the centurion said “Laxa” directly to Jon and said to her, “You can relax now, Miss Jordan. It's time to go answer some questions.”
* * * * *
The ride was comfortable, but the atmosphere in the van was very quiet. Certainly Beth and Jon, sitting in the rear, made no effort to start a discussion with the centurion. She felt better when the van stopped at her church and her pastor got in, but that didn't lead to any sustained conversation, either. It was starting to feel really creepy by the time the van pulled up at her house. She headed for the front door, and was happy to get a hug from both her parents. By the time the discussion was about to start, she was sitting on the sofa with her parents, facing Centurion Jackson, with Jon and Pastor off to one side.
“Are you going to explain why you're trying to force my daughter to join this army of yours?” her father began, with more than just a touch of anger.
The centurion looked at him calmly and let a bit of silence happen before he answered. “We are not forcing your daughter to do anything. We view it as giving her an opportunity she would never normally have been offered. In fact, if you have already made up your minds to refuse your daughter permission to enlist, we will leave you right now and not bother you anymore.”
Her father and mother glanced at each other before her mother softly began, “Does that mean you'll provide the treatment …,” only to stop as the centurion slowly shook his head.
“'As I told your daughter, medical treatment at the Imperial Hospital is, by law, provided only to imperial citizens and soldiers, and their immediate families.”
“Well, maybe I could join this thing instead ...” her father began, only for him to stop as the centurion made the same negative indication.
“Imperial citizenship can only be earned by twenty years of service in the imperial forces. You would never have been offered the opportunity to join. Your daughter only has this chance because her friend here,” he nodded at Jon, “was able to, shall we say, find a loophole that let your daughter tell her story to Chaplain Mueller.”
At this, Beth's pastor gave a slight jerk and looked at Beth and her parents. “I'm not exactly sure how I got involved in this, but Chaplain Mueller and I are friends, and we were classmates at the seminary. I think he's a solid, reliable man, and I not only would, but I have, entrusted my own children to his care. In fact, several years ago, he was chaplain at the camp where Bethany worked last summer.”
Her father sounded much less belligerent
now, saying, “So, if Bethany ... if we decide Bethany can join, what will happen with her sister Becky.”
“I've been informed that if you decide to give your permission, the Imperial Hospital will contact your daughter's doctor today, arrange her transfer this afternoon, and begin treatment this evening. The doctor I spoke to informed me that it would take three or four days to completely eradicate the cancer, but her family, and you, of course, will be free to visit whenever you want.”
The Jordans almost collectively shook their heads at the utter assurance the centurion seemed to have that the health problem would be handled that quickly and easily. “What about Bethany? What will happen with her?” her mom said.
“She would start basic training this evening, along with everyone else. Her room, food and clothing, a uniform like this young man's,” he again nodded at Jon, “would be provided for her. She would be paid weekly,” he took a silver coin out of a pocket and flipped it to Bethany, who showed it to her parents. “the equivalent of $50 a week, but for the first three years, soldiers are required to save half of that.” He chuckled half to himself. “These young people won't have the time to buy much of anything anyway, for quite some time. Her pay could increase over the years to a maximum,” he took a gold coin out of another pocket and flipped it over to the Jordans, “of about $1000 a week. Incidentally, that's the highest anyone can make in Imperial service, including the emperor himself.”
Her father pulled at his chin. “Beth hasn't finished high school, yet.”
Centurion Jackson nodded his head in agreement. “And because she hasn't, her first major assignment after graduation from basic training, will be to finish her high school education, at her own high school this coming year. She would have some weekend duty and some duties during the week, but there would be a number of weekends that she would be free to be home with you. After her graduation she will have a free education at the Imperial University, in subjects of her own choosing.”