Chapter One: A Call for Justice,
Above an eagle flies across the western sky in twilight hours as the sun goes down. In the waning heat of the dying sun thousands of spectators' watchful eyes observed the tragic scene before them. The consuming hush of the once cheering crowd fell over the significant moment like a cloud of despair. The fallen lay bloody and feet apart after a harrowing battle between two foes. Between shadows and dust lies the greatest sacrifice a nation has ever witnessed. Commodious, the last Roman emperor lay killed in battle against Maximus. Maximus saved Rome from its bloody tyrant at last. Blood caked the scorched sand around the pair of warriors. Maximus's body rose in the arms of his fellow countrymen as the people honored and so tragically celebrated him as he was taken from the arena to the funeral pyre to be burned to release his soul to the underworld. Gracchus, Roman's now freed Senator, led the mourner's procession followed by Princess Lucilla and her son Lucius.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the cosmos, beyond the cares of the mortal world, sat Jupiter, king of all Roman gods. A feeling of dread like never before felt by the immortal king flooded his senses. He closed his all seeing eyes and jerked violently as he observed a troubling matter that just flashed before his mind's eye. He could see Maximus and his whole life up to his very last breath. The people were praying for him. Yes, thousands upon thousands of urgent prayers came forth like a tidal wave of collective emotional pleas. They speak of betrayal of the bitterest kind. Murder, dishonor and the most troubling injustice that even he could not ignore.
The last thing his closed eyes observed was a funeral procession taking place. Maximus was being carried through the streets of Rome. The great god opened his bright emotional golden eyes. A vast universe swirling in color and splendor came into view once more. Stars twinkled their knowledge that this was too big to stand by and just watch. Hastily, Jupiter rose from the shimmering golden throne of justice and called forth Hercules, the god of heroes. Immediately Hercules responded and stood before Jupiter appearing out of seemingly nowhere.
"How may I serve you, my great king?" Hercules asked as he bowed deeply.
"I had just observed a horrific crime and terrible injustice. Maximus Decimus Meridius was just now killed, NO! Murdered! There has been a great wrong done to this human. Not only had he endured too much but was dishonored and betrayed. Dishonored to the point that Commodious took advantage and cheated as he stabbed the warrior in the chest to cripple him to even out the odds that he would win. Though Commodious did not win this fight, he surely murdered his opponent rather than fight him fairly. Maximus has shown to me that even though he suffered severely his character and honor were maintained throughout it all. I can not let this pass without intervention on my part. He must be saved." Jupiter proclaimed passionately.
"Yes sire, I have been observing this man as well. Strength and honor was his motto. He was an extremely loyal and moral man. Brave and a leader most admired to default. He only killed when he had to in battle and the arena. His most heartfelt wish was to be there for his family and go home. As a peaceful type of person that only a seasoned warrior can produce, he wanted to live out his life by the sweat of his brow and dirt on his hands as a mild mannered farmer and humble obedient servant to the gods.'' Hercules sighed, ''Yet, he was denied. After the death of his beloved family ordered by Commadious, he paid the price of loyalty to Marcus Aurelius and his dying wish that Rome should become a republic once more. As he lay dying from exhaustion and grief he was sold into slavery. You think it would be his end but he instead rose to become Rome's greatest gladiator and defied an emperor. You know what his final words to the world was, Jupiter?"
Hercules paused as Jupiter nodded. "And now we are free." Jupiter offered solemnly.
There was a moment of respectful silence as the gods looked at each other with such mutual knowledge. The fallen hero Maximus's deeds had truly echoed into eternity. No longer in doubt of what must be done in agreement, the two great deities choose now how to act.
A clap of attention was sudden and demanding. "Send for Asclepius at once!" Jupiter ordered his servants.
"What we are about to do will ripple its effect even into the underworld below." Hercules warned wisely.
Jupiter stood tall and his presence grew even more powerful with the fire of his growing conviction. "Nevertheless, it must be done.'' With that, Jupiter placed strong hands on his hips. "Besides, How can I be the god of justice, law and order if I stand idly by and let this pass?"
"Agreed." Hercules nodded and whirled around, his red cloak billowing in the displaced air. He disappeared from sight.
Somewhere in the night sky, Selene's nighttime revelry was broken as Asclepius approached on a mighty pegasus on the celestial current. It was unusual to see him so far from human affairs. After all, he loved them so much.
"Ah sister, well met." he greeted Selene with a slight nod.
"Asclepius, what brings you here?" She gestured to the winged horse he rode upon. " Isn't that Hercules's pegasus?"
"Why, yes it is sister, nothing seems to escape your lovely notice." He said flattering her smoothly.
"Never mind the cheeky comments, why are you not with your precious humans, don't you have to interfere with the grand plan and defy the fates some more tonight?"
''As a matter of fact, yes. Jupiter has commanded that we go heal, bring back to life and assist a mortal. The human man has been wronged and must be saved."
Taking advantage of the suddenly stunned Selene, Asclepius quickly boarded Selene's chariot and took the reins in hand. They watch as Pegasus dashed away into the night sky, disappearing beyond the horizon. Asclepius looked back at Selene now and almost laughed. Selene's face was priceless; mixed with her disbelief and annoyance flitting across her ever changing beautiful features like the moon she governed over. Her long black hair cascaded in waves down to her lower waist. A small delicate crown of a crescent moon graced her fair porcelain-like skin forehead with diamonds braided together twinkling in the scant light of the lesser glow of the moon. Silver colored eyes narrowed in mistrust as she contemplated the truth of his tale. Her midnight blue gown billowed along with her silver cloak in the evening air.
"What is this?" Selene shakes her head in disbelief. "Jupiter takes sudden unexplained notice of a single mortal's plight? How unlike him. He's usually preoccupied and concerned with the bigger picture so to speak. Like the universe and the effects of the grand plan. " Selene said decidedly.
"Ah, but you know his highness. He can not abide an injustice of this grand magnitude. It seems that our entire nation is crying out for justice for this one man." Ascepius explained.
Selene looked over Ascepius's handsome youthful features, he leaned back and drove the chariot with care and ease. He was serious and determined as she had ever seen him before in the past. Dressed in traditional Roman style clothing, his only tell tale sign he is different from a mortal is his symbol of the snake laying on his chest, big bold and in your face that he was the god of healing, a giver of life, and in his belt his famous scepter. His bright green eyes are shown in the bright moonlight and gleamed with intensity. Instinctively Selene knew their great king would not stand for such a blatant spit in the eye of decency and order. All that the god held so dear was at stake to defend. So Selene nodded her understanding now and she motioned to her fellow immortal.
"I really don't see why I am needed. How can I be of help?" Selene asked doubtfully.
She contemplated why me? What could possibly Jupiter have planned with her involved in such a matter? Was there something she missed here? Seriously, she could see why her brother's involvement was so imperative, but not her own. In the past her dealings with the human race and others had been dismal failures. Her relationships with her lovers were not so lasting either. Falling in love with two gods and a single mortal in her lifetime had been very painful. Well, she was not too lucky in love that was sure. Having a few children with Jupiter and Pan was bad enough as the relationships soon failed. But to surrender her heart to a mortal was just plain stupid. She fell in love with a human once that Jupiter himself cursed. All because she loved him too much. So, now he is eternally asleep, and she will never be happy again. A tragic end to all that dared to love her and now she is isolated wishing only to be left alone with her moon and her duty to its function. It was just safer for everyone around her that way.
Selene looked over and searched Ascepius's face for answers. Seeing her eyes on him, Ascepius shrugged. Keeping his eyes to the sky and heading in the direction of the city of Rome, he offered a small smile as he spoke.
"Dear sweet sister, Jupiter has his reasons and I suspect it might have something to do with the past. Besides, as you are by nature a most kind and helpful goddess by default. It would not surprise me if your gifts of empathy and intuitiveness might come in handy helping this human to adjust with his new life." Ascepius looked at his sister and saw a single tear fall like star dust from the heavens. He sighed as the significance of those tears did not escape his notice. "Anyway, I need you to shield us from prying eyes in your Eclipse Cloak so we can escape undetected by the mortals. For he will be burned soon if we do not make haste and we will need your gifts if this plan will work. Will you do this?"
Selene wiped the offending tear that betrayed her emotions away from her soft cheeks with her fingers.
"Of course, but as a word of caution, I really don't think Pluto will take this interference too well. Think about it Ascepius, how many mortals have you stolen from his grasp and prolonged their days?"
Ascepius chuckled softly. "Ah, yes, your reluctance is prudent Selene. He will be quite put out, I know this." His cheeky smile only broadened at the thought. "However, you know dear sister, how I love inducing Pluto's rage, he defies life itself, it troubles me. He's a regular stick in the mud of mankind. Besides, sometimes mortals deserve a second chance, right?"
Selene sat back resigned to warning him no more. She was also not convinced this endeavor was going to go as smoothly as they would like it to. But with Jupiter, and her past still forever in her mind she could not forget that she cared for him once back then. Though he may have his faults, he was still the king and he had earned and kept all the gods' respect for a great reason. Because of all this, she was loyal to him and his cause, no matter how trivial human affairs were to her now, some of her fellow immortals viewed things a little differently. So if Jupiter sanctioned this quest, who was she to oppose him? Selene nodded once more decidedly. She was now fully invested in this idea. If Jupiter had deemed a mortal worthy of such beneficial attention, then so be it.
" Okay, I'm in. Let's do this." She shrugged. "Besides, what kind of harm could it really do?"
Ascepius grinned toothily in the moonlight. He was clearly enjoying himself now. "Nothing that I really care to regard seriously." He suddenly burst out laughing. "Right, onward to Rome."
With an extra slap of the reins, the chariot led by Selene's magical oxen sped on through the night sky with the fuel of the driver's growing zeal from the impatience and anticipation for the excitement about to take place.