ACT 2

The Waiting Game

Months Later – Late 2262

Decanus Aleron secured the flap on his tent's opening behind him and tossed another log on the fire in the center, combatting the cold winds of the season. He thought he heard mention that the winters down south weren't as cold as those up north. He shrugged the thought out of his head as he casually reached for the crate under his cot, barely noticing the young woman shivering on the opposite bed. From the crate, he withdrew his thick sleeved red tunic and began removing his armor for the additional garb. Below the thick sweater, he saw the similarly made slave jacket. Taking the X marked sweater, he tossed it to the slave, who saw it and caught it just in time before letting out a light, "Thank you, master."

He'd been rather content with Gabriella's behavior and conduct in recent weeks and felt she earned some comfort since the weather had been getting increasingly colder. He even allowed those non-permitted words to go un-reprimanded. As he threw on the sweater, the fire felt wonderful, growing bigger and bigger as that log he added was swallowed. After re-equipping himself, he began going about his reason for returning to his tent in the first place. Aleron pulled up his field pack and began stuffing it with his provisions and supplies that might be needed for the assignment. While he did so, and the tent got warmer, Aleron could feel the spirits of Gabriella liven since he started feeling her eyes on his person.

He'd been very strict about his "No mentally asking questions either" rule, and she was usually very good about it, but he still felt that question from where those eyes were looking. The question was relevant this time since his assignment was unusual, so he answered the young woman's ocularly asked question un-reprimanded;

"Lord Interfector has given a task in town, so I will be gone overnight. I should be back sometime tomorrow afternoon, so make your way over to the Grama. I loaned you to her until then to make yourself useful."

"Yes, master…" said the servant, still lacking the courage to finish uttering a situationally permitted directive clarification request.

Aleron turned to face her hesitancy, and the woman stuttered, "May I speak free-"

Immediately cut off by the Decanus, "- 'Free' is a word that doesn't exist to you, slave!..." She sat back eyes wide, scared, and still surprised every time a word is erased from her vocabulary.

"You may speak to my benefit, slave." Aleron growled.

The woman nearly forgot her situationally permitted directive clarification request for her master's benefit momentarily before it hit her and she asked weakly, "Would Master like me to stay with the Grama for two nights? Since he has his event the following evening?"

Aleron thought about what she mentioned. He had it in mind, but it didn't occur to him whether or not the new task would get in the way of his meeting the following night. Then it occurred to him that the healer is required elsewhere that same evening. Still, he could leave the slave under the Grama's charge and remain useful to the healing shelter. Either way, the slave was correct, he would need his slave to be useful to the Interfector's forces longer than initially considered.

"Correct. Inform her of the update, and you are to stay under the authority of the recovery tent both nights, and regardless if the Grama has to step out. Now get ready. I await the arrival of Dalton the Prime, so you leave when I do."

The slave stood for a bow and began making herself presentable for the day. Aleron sat back on his cot, staring into the fire, waiting on Dalton, and watching his slave wash her face and dress properly. Not more than a minute later, Dalton the Prime came through the opening to Aleron's domicile, bringing in a wave of the cold outside air. Dalton stepped through, fully armored with helmet and mask in hand, packed for an overnight trip as well. Aleron stood to his feet in an instant as Dalton asked, "Ready to go, Aleron?"

"Ready to set out immediately, Prime"

Aleron began marching to the exit when Dalton, with his hands hovering by the fire, said, "Hold up. Killer said to wait for his word before we set off. He's in a meeting right now, so we got a minute or two to warm up a bit before we see if there's anything last minute he needs us to do in town."

"Acknowledged," said Aleron as he added one more solid stick to the fire. Meanwhile, Dalton stood over the fire glancing around until his eyes landed on Gabriella still cleaning her face to Aleron's preferred presentation level on her side of the enclosure;

"Oh hey, Gabriella, didn't see you over there. Morning."

The woman turned to face the Prime legionary bodyguard and looked in Aleron's direction for what to do. After enough hesitation, Aleron commanded calmly, "You greet legionaries when they address you, woman."

"Ave, Legionary Dalton. True to Caesar," said Gabriella softly and without breaking the no eye contact rule.

"Right back at'cha" mumbled Dalton more to himself than the slave before Aleron said to her, "Good, now resume what you were doing and leave for your duty. I'm waiting here with the Prime."

"Yes Maste-" Said the woman as she started turning,

"Aleron." Interrupted the decanus.

"Yes, Master Aleron" corrected the woman as a sad smile grew across her face. She'd waited months to be allowed to speak his name in his presence without being hit. Tears grew in her eyes as she finished cleaning up her face, having felt something akin to "love" by the simple permission. When Gabriella was done, she headed out the tent, into the cold morning, and towards the encampment's healing tent to stay with Grama.

Aleron and Dalton were letting the last of that fire burn out, figuring that would be around about the time they could check back in with the Murderer before departing.

The Murderer sat at the head spot in the circle around his command tent's fire pit. Using his poker to idly prod the steady flame, Centurion Lucania of the 11th was giving the updated news he'd received from Legate Marius.

"So he's on his way back, right now?" asked the Interfector, getting to the point of Lucania's rather detail-scarce but lengthy report.

Centurion Theracos, Arman, and Galio all adjusted in their chairs as Lucania responded, "That's my read. I know it was vague at best, but that's all the news there was from his explorer. I would say this most recent word is indicative that something bad happened out there."

"His reports for the past few weeks have been vague like that, which probably means a whole series of 'something bads' happened out there." Said the Interfector frustratedly.

"I understand that, Lord Interfector, but there's still no word on any new directive, so what will you have us do?" asked Centurion Lucania.

The Murderer set his poker down, leaned back in his chair, and let loose a long sigh before saying, "I suppose there's nothing To do at the moment. If he really is on his way back, it'll still be a few days before he gets here- I Freaking Told Marius to use my auxilia, but he was so dead set on taking the whole damned 5th Cohort to investigate those Hidebark ambush sites! He's been gone how long? 2 or 3 months now, 'campaigning' more like 'sending his troops to slaughter.' What was the point of his cautious approach while we were dealing with the Ajoans if he was just going to march his whole force against them? Even I knew Hidebarks aren't ones for big open battles! I wouldn't be surprised to see he lost his whole force and has been trying to cushion the blow with all these vague reports…"

The four centurions of the Long Shadows Two Sun Fort adjusted uncomfortably after hearing their superior's venting about his superior. Centurion Arman chimed in, "No matter their situation, or no matter what my explorers see, we won't get an accurate read on what happened with Legate Marius' force until he gets here. Hopefully, then, we'll see firsthand… Meanwhile, the raiders and preppers of this region have been consistently getting repelled, but I can assure you that they'll come out of their forts if we end up having to move, so what is your solution, Lord Interfector?"

"I've been planning for such a worst-case scenario the second Marius left to pursue the Hidebarks. As it happens, my plan for such an event should be a perfect fit for regional stability, and should hold us over until we figure out exactly what happened with the Legate's campaign." Said the Interfector as he stared into the fire.

"Going to initiate those little 'Reforms' you brought up a few months back?" asked Centurion Arman curiously.

The Interfector looked up to Arman, "I have two of my personal staff ready to execute it now…" He paused, scanning the faces of the officers. All were steady and unquestioning, but still internally contemplating what Legate Marius will think when he returns. The Interfector saw this in their faces and added like a man in charge would, "… I doubt Marius would care for my 'Reforms', but if his reports are so vague and so clearly indicative of something terrible, I don't think he'll mind upon his return…"

"I just worry what Caesar might think if Legate sends word north about such a practice-" Interjected Centurion Galio, but was in turn cut off by the Murderer;

"Why do you think Caesar sent me down here?..."

The question oriented to the centurions, none of whom were entirely sure of the answer. The Interfector asked the room, "You all don't know who I am down here, do you?... It's about time the acting commander of the Long Shadow garrison revealed his true self to the friendly people of Two Sun, wouldn't you say?"

Again, nobody answered, but before anything else was said, the entrance to the large command tent opened, and Decanus Gula entered. All the centurions and Interfector turned to the source of meeting interruption. As the Veteran Decanus stepped up to the fire, he announced, "Ave, my Primus, apologies for the interruption. Beg permission to relay an urgent situation to Centurion Theracos, Lord Interfector."

"Go for it, Hail Caesar." Said the Interfector dryly. Each centurion taking the interruption as a sort of break from the long meeting, sat there silently thinking about the situation discussed. The Murderer meanwhile, took the time to casually overhear the decanus' report to Theracos who'd been rather silent during the meeting due to lack of news to report.

"What is this urgent situation, Decanus Gula?" asked the Centurion already disinterested.

"It's about our healer; she has been rendered immobile-"

Theracos' tired face turned to a scowl in an instant at that, and shot in, "Who struck her? I demand the legionary's name, and bring his decanus to me as well. I'll have both of them-"

"Your assessment of the situation is misunderstood," said Gula before the centurion asked;

"Well, what happened then?"

"It would appear as though the Grama's 'back gave out' as she said." Replied Gula trying to understand the words he himself was saying.

"Elaborate," said Theracos.

"According to the slave, Gabriella, the Grama was picking up a box of medicine when her back failed to perform its function of supporting her person. The story was corroborated by two of the Grama's other loaned laborers, and Decanus Montano who verified their story in his investigation and can vouch for the paralyzed state of the woman," said Gula, describing the situation as accurately as he'd been told.

"And the laborers?" asked Theracos.

"According to Decanus Montano, all innocent of any plotting. He himself said he was drawn to the situation by a cowardly scream he identified as Gabriella's," said Gula.

"Well, where is the Grama now?" asked Theracos.

"Posted to the healing enclosure, apparently unable to move her legs. She continuously refused Decanus Montano's directives to stand regardless of threat, so the situation is believed to be unfavorable." Gula stated.

Theracos thought about the situation and how to deal with it briefly before asking, "Is there anything to be done?"

"I don't know," said Gula before adding, "None of the Cohort's other healers seem able to figure out what's wrong."

Theracos paused for a long moment before finally telling Gula, "Have someone run into town and fetch a physician, so I-"

The Interfector finally jumped into the conversation at that, "No need, Theracos…" Turning to Gula, his eyes met the man before the Elite continued, "Thank you, Decanus Gula. I'm sending two of my staff into town for a separate task; I'll ensure they grab a physician on the way back."

"Thank you, Lord Interfector" said both Theracos and Gula almost simultaneously as the Killer stood.

With all of eyes seeing the Murderer stand, the Elite said, "I'd say this meeting is about adjourned. Our objective remains…" he paused tiredly, "Wait on Marius. Yall may go."

Each officer gave their formal salutes goodbye and departed the tent. Before Gula and Theracos left, The Murderer walked between them and said, "Boys, let's go check up on dear old Grama, shall we?"

Gula and Theracos nodded, and proceeded out the tent, following The Murderer into the cold morning encampment.

As the three walked through the camp fortress occupying the foot of Mica mountain, the large fortification called Long Shadows stirred to life. Four Legion centuries occupied the fort at the moment, but the sprawling compound had accommodations and space for the other five that were still out east on Legate Marius' Hidebark offensive. Walking across the large grounds and fort busying itself, the three approached the location of the described incident. Along the way, Decanus Aleron and Dalton the Prime bumped into the Elite on their way to his command residence.

"Dalton, Aleron, there you are," said The Killer as he motioned for Gula and Theracos to go on without him."

"We set to go, Killer?" asked Dalton as Aleron said, "Ave, My Primus, True to Caesar."

"Indeed you are, and Hail to both of you-" said the Killer as he walked them along. He stopped himself and added, "Actually, I have an additional order. Would you boys kindly grab a doctor or physician from the town as well? It's important."

"Consider it done," said both Aleron and Dalton at the same time, but Dalton with a questioning twang.

"Grama took a bit of a fall and Theracos needs someone who'll treat the woman, not someone whole smother healing powder on her" said the Interfector.

Dalton said "You got it" while Aleron's tiny black heart sank at the news. This sudden "feeling" disgusted Aleron, but didn't prevent him from responding with the appropriate, "A physician will be brought to you regardless of his say in the matter."

"Excellent, I have your four legionaries waiting by the gate. Make it happen boys."

"See you tomorrow," said Dalton as the group dispersed.

On their way towards the gate, Aleron and Dalton approached the four waiting backup legionaries, but along the way, they saw the distant healing tent. The men watched The Killer enter the tent as Montano emerged, upon recognizing each other, even at distance, the rivals exchanged silent nods.

Inside the healing tent, the Interfector found himself looking at the large mostly empty space where three slaves were ordered to the corner while Theracos and Gula were standing beside the cot Grama was recently bound to. She laid there while Theracos was speaking to her in a hushed but somehow still commanding tone. The Murderer couldn't make out any of this, and when he approached, the three sets of eyes turned to him. The Elite pulled up a stool and sat there beside her cot while the old slave looked at him curiously.

"How are you feeling, Grama?" asked The Killer, somewhat friendlier in mood than others.

"Back broke. Can't stand no more," she said, mostly staring at the ceiling of the enclosure.

Theracos prodded her leg with the sharp end of his blade, something that didn't cause the woman to even notice, and seemingly verifying the validity of the slave's words for the Elite.

"Stop, that's not necessary," said The Interfector, making Theracos stop.

The woman didn't notice what was happening or even care to figure out what the Elite told Theracos to stop doing. The woman only turned her head to the Elite's eyes when he said, "I'm sending someone into town for a physician to get you checked out, Grama."

She looked at him after those words with something behind her eyes, before she turned back to stare at the ceiling. "That's what Ugly over there said..." responded the old woman as she gestured to Theracos who let the insult slide solely because it was the Grama who said it. "Never thought yall would do something like that..." added the woman, somewhat taken aback despite no change in her face or sedentary state. She even threw in the words, "Should just put me down."

"Nonsense" said the Interfector before stating almost humorously, "You're too valuable to just kill off. We'll get you a checkup, fix what we can, and if there's anything too bad... I'm sure we'll still be able to find some kind of use for you."

The Grama rolled her eyes at that and sighed, "Great. How noble of you, Lord Interfector..."

Montano watched Dalton and Aleron depart from the Legion fort with their small detachment of legionaries, wondering where they were going, but more focused on one particular thought. He'd been there to verify the state of the Grama and knew that she was immobile and unable to move. At that present time, she was under the direct watch of Theracos and the Interfector, something unusual for a slave of any kind to experience. As he watched his rival and the peculiar Prime depart, he wondered what was to come of the Grama, not so much because of worry for her health, but because she was most likely going to be needed the following evening. He considered whether or not the plan was off as the Interfector and Theracos emerged.