Chapter Ten-Trojus of the Roman Empire
Romulus’ plan had worked; he had successfully brought Trojus under his control and used him as a tool of the Roman Empire. Whenever there was unrest or an impossible battle to win, he would send in the brainwashed Trojus in full fury to destroy his enemies. Trojus was under the impression that he was a mercenary with amnesia making him easy to control. Romulus had eventually disappeared over the centuries and Trojus found himself wandering the earth doing mercenary work for various Kings and Emperors throughout the different empires. During this period of uncertainty, Trojus had taken the name Marcus Antonius Trojus of Rome, and offered his services to the highest bidder. In 480 BCE Trojus was hired by the Persian Emperor Xerxes I to command his forces that would invade Greece.
Trojus was appointed at the head of a 200,000-man army and marched across the Hellespont into Greece. They were met by a force of 300 Spartans who managed to beat back the Persian forces while defending a narrow goat path that the Persians needed to pass in order to commence their invasion of the Greek City-States. Trojus was impressed by the Spartan tactics and bravery. Xerxes however was furious and removed Trojus from his command position. Instead, Xerxes ironically positioned Trojus as head of his elite “Immortal” unit. Trojus and the immortals rushed into battle against Leonidas and his 300 man Spartan army.
Trojus was severely wounded at the onset of the battle when Leonidas plunged a spear through Trojus’ chest piercing his heart. Trojus fell to his knees, grasping his chest. “Die Persian Swine!!!” Leonidas yelled as he prepared to finish off Trojus with a deadly blow. Trojus began to speak in Greek, out of pure instinct, causing Leonidas to hesitate. Leonidas grabbed Trojus off the battlefield as the day’s battle ended. “You! How do you know Greek?” he demanded from Trojus.
“Everybody knows Greek,” Trojus responded. “What is your name soldier?” he asked Trojus. “Marcus Antonius Trojus of Rome,” he responded. Leonidas paused, “Did you say Trojus?” he asked. Trojus nodded. “Get me a healer and find me an antidote, I sense magic at work on this warrior.” A healer emerged from the ranks and was brought before Leonidas and Trojus.
He presented Leonidas with a potion antidote, and then the healer poured its contents over Trojus’ head. Suddenly a flood of memories poured back in, almost instantly. Trojus saw all of the atrocities Romulus made him commit over the centuries. He heard the screams of innocent women and children of villages and cities he burned down with his power. He saw the death of hundreds of thousands of warriors and soldiers he killed under Romulus’ orders. “No! I am a monster! What have I done?!!!” Trojus screamed.
“Calm down warrior, the magic must have affected your brain. I know of you immortal, my ancestors spoke of your deeds during the Trojan War. Now you are restored noble Trojus,” Leonidas said. “How can I repay you? I will gladly aid your army against Xerxes,” I respond. “Nay, this is a battle between men, not Gods. Be on your way Trojus and remember us brave few Spartans who have given our lives to protect freedom and to stop tyranny,” he says. I leave never looking back; history says that Leonidas and his 300 Spartans perished at the hands of Xerxes’ armies. I cannot help but feel guilty for not warning them of Ephialtes’ betrayal of the vulnerability of the goat path.
In hindsight, perhaps I should have warned them. Over the next few centuries, I throw myself in conflict after conflict trying to forget the horrors I committed while under the control of Romulus and that witch Anna. I lose track of time over the centuries, finally returning to Rome in 48 BCE during the time of Julius Caesar. I once again took the name of Marcus Antonius Trojus to fit into Roman society. I joined Caesar’s army as he marched into Egypt to pursue his enemy and rival Pompey. That was when I encountered Cleopatra, a woman with beauty to rival Diana or Helen of Troy.
Egypt had changed a lot since I had last visited several centuries ago. When we arrived there, Pompey was already dead, and Caesar had to settle a dispute over the Egyptian throne between Cleopatra and Ptolemy. Julius Caesar had to decide who would be the next Pharaoh of Egypt. He had to choose between Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy. Caesar decided that Cleopatra would be a better fit, possibly because he had been sleeping with her during the course of his decision. This enraged Ptolemy to the point where a civil war broke out in Egypt.
Ptolemy was no match for our superior military forces and the battle was quickly won with Cleopatra securely placed on the Egyptian throne as its new Queen. I accompanied Caesar on many of his military conquests, campaigns and expeditions throughout Africa, the Middle East, Gaul, and what would later become Spain. Caesar eventually returned to Rome and declared himself Emperor and President for life. The people and I cheered for Caesar except a handful of senators who opposed his declaration. One day as we stood in the Senate, several senators approached Caesar, and I immediately noticed something was wrong. Brutus approached first, then the others.
They drew daggers and repeatedly stabbed Caesar in the back, like cowards stabbing him twenty-three times. I stood in shock and horror at this deed of horrific proportions. I grabbed Caesar checking for a pulse, but he was already dead, and I was too late. His blood stained my tunic, and I looked as the murderers fled the scene of their misdeeds and savagery. This was the worst of human nature, I had ever seen in centuries. Rome would come to exhibit a pattern of murder and treachery over the centuries, right until the very end. Emperor after Emperor would be murdered over the years and I was a silent witness to this period in human history.