"It was discovered only a few months ago after the earthquake along the Alps." Agent Costello was explaining to Claudia when Art stumbled in with a cup of coffee in hand.
"You still haven't explained why an antiquity is our problem." Claudia said. "It seems like this should be an archeological issue; not something that we should handle."
"It is our problem thanks to Valda." Art said as he studied the rusted item displayed on the computer monitor. "He believes that it could turn out to be an artifact."
"An old shield and sword?" Claudia snorted. "It's just a couple of rusted items that belong in a museum; not the warehouse. What is it supposed to do anyway?"
"Valda wasn't clear about that; just that we need to find it." Art said.
"Has Gabriel weighed in on it?" Claudia asked.
"I haven't heard from him since I got back from the bunker." Art said. "Although I could pray for him; he might know more than Valda since he's…well you know."
"Yeah, all-knowing Archangel and generally annoying trickster." Claudia nodded. "Give him a call. Costello has already packed the item and shipped it. We should get it in the next day or so."
Two days later and Art was unpacking the new artifact. Carbon dating had identified it as being from the ancient Roman era; sometime around the Third Servile War. Lying on the table in front of him was a rusted shield and sword welded together. But the Shield was more reminiscent of a Spartan shield; designed so that the user's arm could be placed through a loop then grasp a handle of some sort. Time had not been kind to any leather attachment that may have been part of it. Only the metal remained.
Carefully Art turned the weapon over to reveal the faded image of a serpent decorating the face of the shield. Art was surprised that any hint of pigment remained considering it had been buried beneath rubble for millennia.
"I remember helping Nasir craft that." Gabriel said from where he had appeared behind Art. "You are looking at a true gift of love."
"You know about this artifact?" Art asked startled.
"Of course I know! I helped create it." Gabriel said. "It was a gift from one warrior to another. A gift that restored dignity and ability to a great warrior; and because of it, an even greater warrior yet lives in human memory."
"Valda insisted we store it in the warehouse. What does it do?" Art asked.
"For now nothing." Gabriel said "But it does carry the blessings of the angel of justice. Injustice can cause it to wreak all sorts of havoc. The spirit of an entire rebellion lives in that sword."
When Art simply stared at him blankly; Gabriel sighed. "Ever hear of Spartacus? Not that old Kirk Douglas movie but the historical man that lived and breathed and fought for what was right?"
"This is Spartacus' shield?" Art asked shocked.
"No it belonged to one of his generals; a man named Agron from what would one day become Germany." Gabriel answered. "Agron used this to fight in the final battle of the rebellion. And when the fight was lost along with Spartacus life; the survivors buried him and placed the weapon on Spartacus grave."
"Buried Agron?" Art asked.
"No you muttonhead! Spartacus!" Gabriel answered. "Agron survived. He led those who survived across the Alps to freedom in his homeland; as Spartacus wanted. Agron and his lover Nasir lived to a ripe old age and passed peacefully from this life."
Gabriel carefully picked up the shield and closed his eyes for a moment. "Agron was one of my charges and he was a handful. Always ready to fight even after he had been nailed to a cross by Julius Caesar. Still didn't stop him from spoiling for a fight. His fighting spirit is in this metal; the person who falls prey to it will fight even when they stand at death's door."
"You were guardian angel to a hothead?" Art asked.
"He was a chosen messenger." Gabriel answered. "He fought well at Spartacus side; but his true purpose in life was to make sure that Spartacus and what he stood for would be remembered. Agron was Spartacus most loyal general; he knew him better than anyone else in the rebellion. And when Spartacus fell; Agron left the shield to mark the grave of the man he had come to regard as a brother. Spartacus was also my charge; and his sense of justice and desire to fight for what is right is also in the metal of this shield."
Gabriel sat the piece of metal back on the table. "I am sure that it would start off with the person affected simply righting the wrongs that he or she saw. Eventually it would snowball into them attacking for any imagined slight. That is what makes it dangerous. It time justice would become corrupted; there would only be one view of the world. The view of the person who owned this shield."
"It sounds very 'Orwellian'." Art said.
"Big brother is not only watching; he'll destroy you if you don't conform." Gabriel agreed.
"I'll just put this in the dark vault." Art said as he slipped the shield into the non-reactive wrapping.
"That's probably a good idea." Gabriel nodded and disappeared. He reappeared in the heaven of three men. The two German brothers were attempting to corral a herd of goats while a dark haired Syrian man watched and laughed.