Act
One
Scene
One
Sub-Scene
One
The
deaths are piling up.
One thing
that in the city of Rome, the killing of gang members was an accepted event
there. The city founded a few decades ago, from a fisherman’s stopover and
later developed with the sea port and then the warehouses with the supporting
factories; it went big with its population. The needs of the dwellers sprouted
the trade business and the city was named. Rome took seven decades to grow, and
with it the districts that were governed by a dozen reputable gangs: the
influential Romans under Caesar, the ‘Rico’ from the Latino clans, the
‘Muddles’ from the Irish boys, the ‘Axe Bros” from the Saxons, the “‘New
Knights’ of Gaul’s and ‘Spartacus’ from the Visigoths that came from the
ghettos, and among the other smaller gangs, the Tongs, Parthian, and Thracian.
The
city needed its guardians.
It
was all fair when the gangs clashed over the territories or when someone made a
scene on the other side. There were spats over name-calling, illicit affairs,
or perhaps a hijack or two. Or head cracked at the Gin Mill; these booze shops
were to be operated and protected by the gangs. In the case of conflict, the
retribution will take place, and after the shootout, the gangs will call for a
truce, and the bigger gangs will mediate the peace terms. It will work most of
the time in the first round of negotiations.
There
was no Godfather like the other gangs but the Kings ruled their domains. It
will bring the Kings to mediate the conflicts.
Or
at times, after the round of talks, some blood is shed among them before they
holstered back the guns. It may take longer if the conflict involved the more
influential gangs.
Ol’Moses
getting iced was one bad event. He was a part of the Romans; the huge gang of
Rome; he was a lieutenant by rank with the Romans. From the outlook, he was a
nice chap; he ran the lotteries shops and always smiled at the ladies. They
called him the Sheik for his nighttime was with the Molls. When it comes to the
weekend, he was all about getting closer to God. He spent his time at the
church talking about God, hence his nickname, Moses. Moses will speak about the
Ten Commandments every weekend.
Till
that day when he was encased at his feet in the slab of ice.
“Caesar,
we do not have the full report yet.” Sully Agrippa, the senior lieutenant of
the Romans, looked at the newly appointed Caesar, Julius Caesar. He had known
Julius Caesar having fought in the battles with him over the other gangs, and
saw his bravery in the fights. Caesar was one of the senior lieutenants of the
Romans along with Crassus and Genus Pompey. The Romans were formed two decades
starting from the bootlegging activities to smuggling. It was then formed by
the twin brothers Remus and Romulus, their nicknames then.
“The
Romans challenged anyone who will defy their might.” That was the message of
the twins. They fought the others and grew the numbers. They soon become the
respected gang at Rome after defeating the Visigoths and Muddles. They took
helm of Rome to become the top gang. They became so well known that the Romans
were also branded as the new Rome; the city they controlled majority.
Nevertheless,
there was always the younger and reckless ones.
The
founders of the Romans were retired with bullet wounds in the chests by the
Thracians, the other seniors took rein on the gang then. The Roman’s
retribution was a massacre of the latter, and it placed fear into the others
not to challenge the Romans. It did not end there, they having to battle their
way with the other gangs for the territories, the new Rome was built in seven
years, and in the last three years, the trio of Julius, Crassus and Genous
Pompey formed the first Trimvir after they reigned supreme.
A
year later, Crassus was shot in an assassination a year later by unknown
assassins. Six months later, Julius Caesar took control and soon ousted Pompey.
The trimvir was dissolved, and Julius became Caesar, the boss of the Romans. He
was also called Emperor. He had the Romans changed their name to Rome; ‘We will
own all of Rome.’
Sully
Agrippa was at the library of the huge mansion of Rome, with the attendance of
the other senior lieutenants of Rome, Pedro Menas Lucan, and Johnny Lepidus.
They were seated at the round table in the library, a memento of the Londoners
to the Romans from years ago, when Rome was governed by seven gangs. But with
the changes made by Caesar, as to appease the boys in Rome, the Consul was
formed among the seniors to appease the them while Caesar managed the affairs
of Rome. It held thirteen seats but only five or less seats were ever taken up.
On
that day, four seats were taken.
“Find
out quick. Last week, Isaac was at the baths. He was shot dead with five
wounds; they found a full clip of bullets shot at him. Either the shooter was
bad at the aim or was leaving us a message.”
“Yes,
Caesar.” Pedro Menas ‘Toby’ Lucan is another lieutenant of Rome nodded and Consul
member. He once served with Genous Pompey but left when Caesar took over. He
was not liked by the others, but he was a loyal lieutenant of Rome.
“We
know.” Sully Agrippa said it with a tone of sarcasm. “I am not stirring the
nest on this, but hits among the gangs are common, but hardly anyone does it to
our ranks. Isaac and Moses are junior lieutenants, but they are still ours.”
“Has
anyone owned up?” Caesar asked. “Genous Pompey?”
“None,
Caesar. They all know if they did, we will seek ten times more retribution.”
Menas replied on his previous boss.
“What
of the Crassus boys? They may hold a grudge against me. Or Pompey again? I know
his son is as powerful.” Caesar listed the name of the previous Triumvir. “They
are...”
“Dead
or in exile, Caesar.” Lepidus answered Caesar. “I do not.”
Lepidus
was loyal to Julius. He was involved in the assassination of Crassus.
“Find
out more. And check on Dino Fabio’s death last month. He was dead from his
heart ailment at home. I think it may be related.” Caesar spoke of his
suspicion. “I do not like suspicious deaths.”
“Caesar,
Consul Brutus seeks your audience.” The meeting was interrupted by a servant
named Jeeves. He is a loyal servant of the household and holds the full trust
of Caesar. He was also one of the rare servants who could walk into the meeting
unannounced.
“I
am in...” Caesar told Jeeves, but the Consul member had stepped in regardless.
“Julius….
Sorry, I was out of line. It should be Emperor Julius Caesar now.” Brutus
stepped in. He held a huge figure on a shorter frame; he was before muscles,
but then, with age, he was laden with fat. He held a youthful expression
tarnished by the declining hair line. He was dressed in the toga favoured by
the ancient Romans. His choice of dressing was, when in Rome, do as the Romans
once did.
Besides
the orgy and gambling, backstabbing was one of his antics.
“I
am sorry to disturb you. I was in the mansion and wanted to introduce you to a
boy of ours.” Brutus approached the trio. He saw the other two and smiled.
“A
new Trimvir?” Brutus laughed. “Good, we do need one.”
“Brutus,
there is no Trimvir anymore. I am discussing the...”
“The
murder of Moses and Isaac. We all know.” Brutus is a member of the Consul,
which governs the general affairs of Rome. The Consul; the twelve members, but
with Julius Caesar the thirteenth member. Since Julius become Emperor, the Consuls
was defunct and more of a name piece. Caesar hardly Consults the Consul. He
only tells them about his works.
“It
was sad that we lost the two of them in such a short time, but we live in
dangerous times now.” Brutus smiled.
“The
Consul needs to only advise on matters regarding Rome in the areas of law and
finance. I will do the needed administration of other matters.” Julius reminded
Brutus.
“Yes,
of course. The death of Moses saddens us all. I am only here to introduce a
lieutenant to you. His name is Mark Antony.”
It
was then that another of the lieutenants rushed in.
“Sorry,
I am late, Caesar. I have some issues to contend with.” The figure was
Enobarbus, a lieutenant, but he ranked below the others there and was not a
member of the Consul.
“Wait
outside. I will call you later.” Caesar told the late arrival.
