The streets were completely quiet now that the fight was over. All the Roman civilians were too terrified to come out and do anything, fearing that Ross would go come out and kill them as well with that sword.
"Nice," Ross said, realizing everyone around was terrified of him. "The proudest empire that this world has ever seen, and I've just made myself look like a mass murderer in it. I hope this won't pop up in our history books."
Mike scoffed. "I hope you're kidding, because we've got bigger things to worry about now."
"Yes," Bien said sternly. "If you want to make it through this journey and find out what Maverick intends to do, then you've got to stay focused on what's happening now."
"I know!" Ross said, agitated. "How stupid do you guys think I am? I know finding Maverick is the most important thing right now."
"Good," Bien said. "Mike. Ross. Let's get a move on."
The three of them started turning around and began walking through the Roman streets. They had no idea where they were going; all they knew was that they wanted to find Maverick and put an end to whatever he was planning.
The search didn't take long. After only a few minutes of walking, the trio found Maverick staring at them. He was poised between two villas, almost like he was waiting for them. Right behind him was another portal, which led to a place only Maverick knew.
"Admirable," Maverick said. "I never would have suspected a child such as yourself would have the stomach to murder someone."
Ross started feeling really guilt-ridden about what he had to do to Kip in order to survive. He hoped that Maverick was actually up to something awful and killing Kip would actually be something that indirectly helped save hundreds or even thousands of lives.
"Maverick, why'd you come back here anyway?" Ross yelled, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah," Mike said. "What'd you have to steal that paper for anyway? What was on it?!"
Maverick laughed. "You think I'm going to tell you? You really are pathetic."
Ross, Mike and Bien only growled at the remarks Maverick was making.
"Oh yeah?" Ross said, trying to get all his courage out. "Well, if we're so pathetic, then how'd we make it here?! Huh?!"
Maverick continued giving Ross a cold stare. Ross turned to Bien and snapped, "Bien! Gimme your rapier!"
Maverick started laughing at Ross's demand. "You might want to think twice before you say that, Ross."
Ross slowly turned to Maverick and saw several guards coming out from the time gate that Maverick just created. They didn't have any weapons, but it was obvious that they knew how to fight and weren't afraid to. Ross knew he couldn't possibly take all of them on at once.
"Follow me," Maverick said. He waved his hand in a beckoning way for Ross, Mike and Bien to come towards them. The three had no choice. They reluctantly went over to Maverick as he forced them through the time gate. The roller-coaster like feel wasn't able to be enjoyed this time due to the circumstances they were under.
When the long tunnel finally ended, Ross, Mike and Bien found themselves inside the temple of the Finis Tempi once again. Maverick and all his guards were accompanying them.
"I think you three need to be thrown in the dungeon," Maverick said with a cold grin on his face.
"A dungeon?" Mike asked as two guards grabbed him by the arms and started hauling him off. "What kind of temple is this, anyway?"
In a matter of minutes, Ross, Mike and Bien were dragged to the basement of the temple. There was a long, but one-way hall that led to a large wooden door. When the door opened, Ross and Mike could clearly see that it was a dungeon, all right.
Ross, Mike and Bien were tossed in the small room. A guard came in and walked over to Bien, and then grabbed the rapier from him.
"Looks like you won't be needing this," the guard said in a cocky way. "That is, if you even remember how to use it after you see the little surprise Maverick has in store for you."
The guard slammed the door shut. The entire room became very dark with barely any light in it all. Ross, Mike and Bien weren't chained to anything, but they had absolutely nothing to do other than just sit and wait.
" 'The little surprise Maverick has in store for us'?" Mike asked a short while after the guard had locked them in the dungeon. There was a small window that was barred, but right through it, it was clear a guard was standing out front the cell, guarding it in case someone were to come to try to set them free.
The time wore on more and more. Ross, Mike and Bien were very scared of what it was that Maverick was going to do to them. It was clear that Maverick wasn't the typical, average monk that one would assume loved peace. Rather, he seemed to be very hostile and very aggressive, especially in times when it was necessary.
The dungeon seemed to be made completely of solid stone. Although the stone was probably a shade of gray, the dark atmosphere of the dungeon made it look dark blue. The walls were neatly piled up of stone, but the floors were less even. The dungeon was actually fairly clean. There were no chains in it, no rats or other animals, and no remains of other people previously caught.
"Man!" Mike yelled, angrily pacing around the jail cell, "What is Maverick gonna do to us? He sounded like he had a plan!"
"And I do," said a familiar voice from behind.
Ross, Mike and Bien turned around. Sure enough, Maverick was standing in the doorway to the dungeon. He had several guards around him so the three couldn't do anything to him if they tried.
"Come on, Maverick," Ross whined, "what are you going to do to us?"
"Better yet, why do you want to do anything to us in the first place?" Mike asked loudly.
"I do not think we've done anything wrong," Bien said in their defense. "We wouldn't have come back here if you didn't send your soldiers to kill my friends in their time period."
Maverick looked very serious. "It's those two's fault!" he accused as he pointed to Ross and Mike. "I told them distinctly to not interfere with the past!"
"For crying out loud!" Ross yelled, his temper beginning to boil over, "it was just a broken stick! What's the big deal about Mike and I breaking a stick?!"
"I need not explain," Maverick said calmly. "But I've come here to tell you what will await you two later tonight."
"Wait a minute," Mike said. "You said the two of us, but we're three. Do people from this age not know how to count or what!"
Maverick scowled. "I was referring to you and Ross," he said in an irritable voice. "You two will have your memory wiped later tonight."
Ross and Mike perked up.
"Wipe our memories?" Ross asked. "What are you talking about?"
"You'll see what I mean soon enough," Maverick said softly. He turned away and started walking from the dungeon with his guards in pursuit.
"Wait!" Mike yelled. "Why doesn't Bien have to get his memory wiped or whatever?"
Maverick stopped. He turned his head slightly so they could see the corner of his eye. "I'll see you later tonight."
Maverick continued walking away and his guards followed him up. Ross and Mike were left staring in complete awe and terror after what Maverick had just threatened to do.
Several hours passed, and the three of them were still completely helpless as they waited in the dungeon for the inevitable to happen. A guard still stood outside the dungeon door, guarding them just in case something was to go wrong.
"Have our memories wiped?" Mike yelled loudly. "Could he have been any more cryptic?!"
"Mike, calm down," Ross said. "It doesn't sound painful or anything. Maybe it won't be so awful."
"Ross, what part did you not get about what Maverick said? We're getting our memories wiped! Erased! Taken from us! Put into a blender while on the 'gooify' setting!"
Ross just sighed. It was a stressful enough situation already and Mike was only adding to the anxiety. Bien, however, seemed to be strangely calm.
"Bien, you're taking this pretty well," Ross said.
Bien let out a nervous chuckle. "I'm not about to have my memories taken from me. I can't imagine what that would be like."
"Hey, guard!" yelled Mike at the other end of the dungeon. "I gotta go to the bathroom!"
Ross turned around. He saw that Mike was gripping the iron bars and screaming at the guard standing right outside the dungeon door at the top of his lungs.
"Hey! I really got to answer nature's call! I feel like my manlihood is about to burst!" Mike yelled to the guard on the other side of the door.
The guard stood still and did his best to ignore Mike. But Mike was persistent.
"Come on, can you at least take me to the little pit where I can relieve myself?...I know you can hear me! Please? I'll be your best friend! Please? Please? Please?"
The guard was clearly losing his patience, and so were Ross and Bien. Both of them looked at each other, and it was obvious just by the other's expression that they were both extremely annoyed with Mike and his inability to accept "no" for an answer.
The guard finally had enough of it. "Hey!" he yelled in a surprisingly sharp voice that was loud enough to make all three prisoners jump. "Can a couple of you guys get over here and escort this child to the place of relief?"
"Place of relief?" Ross asked softly, trying hard not to chuckle at the thought of whoever named it.
A few guards came and opened the door to the dungeon. Four of them surrounded Mike as they let him go out the door and on their way to the place that they considered to be the restrooms. As they were leading Mike out, one of the guards turned to Ross and Bien, who were sitting in a corner of the dungeon.
"If you either of you need to go as well, now's the time. Because you're not getting out again tonight, no matter how much you complain," the guard warned.
Ross shrugged. I guess I could at least try. I'm not going to get the opportunity again tonight.
Ross stood up and accompanied Mike as the guards led both of them to use the restrooms. The guards were relieved to hear Mike's non-stop complaining finally stop.
After the two had gone, they were being led back into the dungeon. But as they were walking back, one of the guards turned to another.
"Hey, why don't we let the young ones quiver in fear and show them the machine Maverick has in store for them?" the guard suggested.
"I don't know," another guard added. "I think Maverick wants them to not know what the machine looks like in order to make them more fearful."
"Think of the look on their faces when they see it, though!" the first guard insisted, a small smile starting to shine through. "They'll be scared out of their wits knowing that they're going to be hooked up to that thing later tonight when she's got it ready!"
The second guard sighed and then turned to the other two. He then sighed again and turned back to the first one. "You realize Maverick is going to have our heads if he catches us doing this, right?"
Ross and Mike looked at each other. Both of them were very nervous about what they were about to see. It wasn't a very comforting thought that they were both going to be hooked up to a machine that was so big it would take hours in advance just to get it ready. The even scarier part is that they knew the machine was going to wipe their memory somehow once they were hooked up to it.
The guards led Ross and Mike to a room that was surprisingly close to their dungeon. The room had a very large door and looked like it was leading into a very important room. One of the guards opened it and Ross and Mike were forced inside. As soon as they were inside, the guards slammed the door shut and let Ross and Mike marvel at what was in front of them.
Ross and Mike were in the room with the machine that was going to wipe their memories. The machine in front of them was giant. It looked completely made of metal and had several switches and controls on it. It looked way too advanced for Ross and Mike's time, never mind the late eighteenth century. There was a rubber chair that was hooked into the machine and a helmet with several wires connecting the helmet to the machine. There was also what appeared to be a large television screen in the center of the machine. But the biggest shock was still to come. Ross and Mike saw that they were not alone in the room.
Sitting at a chair and getting all the controls set was a girl. She looked like she was no older than Ross or Mike. Her hair was a lighter shade of blonde than Mike's and it went down to about the base of her neck.
"Mike," Ross said, "is that girl going to wipe our memories? She looks as old as we are."
"I know," Mike said. "Maybe it's really a forty-year old."
"Forty-year old?" the girl asked in a loud tone. She spun her chair around so she was facing Ross and Mike. "Well, for your information, I…"
She trailed off. Her eyes widened in complete disbelief at who she was staring at. Her pale blue eyes looked completely shocked and her mouth was hanging wide open. She looked like she had stopped breathing for a moment.
Ross looked exactly the same. His eyes and mouth were also wide, but the expression on his face looked much more shocked.
"N…no," the girl said, stammering very loudly. "You can't be…"
"…Beth?" Ross asked, still not believing his eyes.
"…Ross?" the girl asked.
There was no doubt left in Ross's mind. It was Beth all right.
Ross's eyes then started squinting a little. His teeth started becoming grit and were shaking up and down wildly. His eyes turned red.
"Beth!" Ross said, sounding very hurt. His red eyes started turning watery. As if he was a little kid again, he turned away and started forcing himself to walk towards a wall. He dropped his head and it just hung. His fists were clenched and looked like they were ready to tear something apart.
"…Ross?" Beth asked, looking very concerned.
Ross turned around. Now there were tears pouring from his eyes, but there were already tear trails visible running down his cheeks. He was having an emotional breakdown.
"Ross?" Mike asked in equal disbelief.
"Why, Beth?!" Ross yelled, the tears not disappearing from his face.
"Ross…" Mike said. In all the years that Mike knew Ross, Mike had never seen Ross cry. Not once. Until now. "I don't think this is the best time to turn all emotional."
"Ross," Beth said with a voice full of sorrow. She hopped down from the chair and went over to the one who she once held in her heart. "I don't want to see you like this after all the time we've been apart."
Ross's tears were slowing down, but they were replaced with rage now. "Oh, you think I want to see you like this?!" he yelled loudly and very violently as he tried to fight back even more tears. "Look at you! Why are you working for Maverick!"
"Ross…how did you get here?..." Beth asked timidly.
"Forget that!" Ross yelled. "I want to know what the hell you're doing working for Maverick!"
Beth was stunned. She didn't know what to say. Mike was equally stunned. It was a very awkward situation for all of them. And for Ross and Beth, not only was it awkward, but it was emotional.
"I…" Beth said, trying to explain.
Ross was breathing heavier and heavier with each passing second. His skinny stomach kept puffing in and out as he exhaled violently.
Moments later, before either of them could say anything, the door opened from behind. It was the guards, and they were back. When they saw Ross's condition, they started laughing.
"Hah!" one yelled. "The kid got so scared he started crying!"
"Hard to think he was killed Kip just a few hours ago," another added on.
"We'll make sure Maverick makes your process nice and slow," a third guard said to Ross in a malicious way. Ross had to use every single bit of inner strength and control to not start lashing out at the guards. If he tried fighting, he would easily get overpowered.
Ross and Mike started getting led back into their dungeon. As they were being led out, Ross turned around and gave Beth one last look, which was hate-filled and raging. After giving Beth one of the most malicious expressions he ever wore, he turned around and continued walking with the guards back into the dungeon.