The Crusaders II The players reviewed 12.01

The players reviewed the stakes

1.          Brooke View Prison

In the main Watch Tower, where the control switches are located, Hauptmann Bormann looked at his watch and then motioned to Feldwebel Henri. The junior officer walked up the Hauptmann and await the instruction.

"Henri, can you check the communication again? I am not used to looking at this watch. Its not the precise workings of the German watches." Hauptmann pulled the watch off his wrist and throw it into the waste bin. "Nutzlosen imitationen".

Feldwebel Henri picked up the portable phone and called the number again. There was no signal. That's odd as normally he had signals here. Maybe the phone was faulty.

"Ein weiterer nutzlos Imitationen?" Hauptmann saw Henri trying to get his phone to work.

"Ja", Feldwebel replied sheepishly. He then saw the five trucks arriving at the main gates. So the gun shipment have finally arrived. Now they can armed the men with the real guns and proceed onto the next stage of the plan.

"Herr Hauptmann, the trucks are here." Feldwebel told the senior officer who was looking out the glass windows from the high point in the tower and blinked his eyes.

"Feldwebel, what are those flying vehicles?"

The Boeing AH-64 or better known as 'Apache' is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache features a armed 30-millimeter  M230 Chain Gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage. It has four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. For this mission, the two of the four Apache were all nerve gas in its missiles while the other two are all carrying the original complements.

"Cochise to Apaches', Lieutenant Ben Edwards made the call. "I am proceeding with the insertion."

The leading Apache hovers over the prison establishment and moved its targeting to the first block. He lowered the craft front nose and fired off one of its missiles. The blast tore a large hole in the roof, while the Lieutenant moved on to the next target. He cleared all four blocks with a hole in the roofing.

"Geronimo go in. Nana to provide cover." The Lieutenant looked over to the last Apache copter. "Dah-teste, take the tower now."

Dah-teste; the name of a Apache warrior and medicine woman flew her craft towards the Main Control Tower. She locked in her target and pressed the fire button. The missile went for the Tower and blew it to smithereens. Then she flew to provide air cover if needed. Meanwhile Geronimo placed a missile each into the individual towers with his modified missiles which upon impact would release a nerve gas to immobilize the prisoners.

Hauptmann Bormann was on his way down the stairs when the tower collapsed. He tried to jump clear but the rubbles from above buried him. Feldwebel Henri was better off as the missile hit him right on the chest. There was nothing to retrieved of him.

Meanwhile the trucks passed the gate and soldiers wearing chemical warfare suit came out to take control of the facility. Among them was Father Ricken and an assembly of priests to conduct the exorcism that was to come later.

Back in Washington DC, General Brady picked up the phone and called the President. He gave the President the good news. President Peter Jones placed the red phone into the cradle and looked at the figure sitting on the couch in the Oval Office.

"Its done, my Lord. The threat in this land had been vanquished." The man in the yellow suit with the green tie stood up and smiled.

"Good works. Peter. I knew I can trust on you to deliver." Loki looked at his latest investment in the land of freedom. "Now the devils should know that if I can't win my war, they also cannot win theirs." 

Othello the Legatus Act 1 Scene 1 Part 2.1

Act One Scene 1 Part 2

Iago followed his friend onto the paved streets of the Roman city, where with the setting sun, the people on it was rushing for their homes. Traders were closing their shops while taverns were lighting up their entrance in view of the evening patrons. They came upon the square facing the taverns, which Roderigo pondered on which to make his entrance.

"Stop there, Roderigo." Iago pulled at his friend's arm. They were dressed in their layered cloth that was made to a toga in design, but it was a relief to had the thicker cloth to protect them from the cold night. Roderigo had passed three taverns and decided on none. Nor did he stopped the whore houses which was his favourite after a warm bath. It was unlike him, which was why Iago stopped him.

"What ails you, my friend?" Iago asked. "I had the slave punished or you wanted to do it yourself."

"Unhand me, Iago. My heart bleeds in pain." Roderigo spoke up.

"Desdemona had been on and off you for days. I had hardly seen you despair one day and rejoice the next." Iago told him. " But had you seen her of late?"

"No, I had not. She does not want to see me, even though I had waited for her all night." Roderigo moaned his despair. "Desdemona, you are killing me."

Iago laughed out loud at his friend's anguish cries of love. He cut in front of his friend.

"If I tell you a sadder tale then would you joined me for a drink." Iago spoke to his friend. Roderigo pushed his friend aside to move towards the next tavern. He was soon to hear out his concern.

"Desdemona is getting married. She is...." Iago was stopped by the hands that grabbed his toga at the neckline.

"My Desdemona would not marry anyone but to me." Roderigo shouted to his friend. "If you are my friend, don't dampen my mood more than its where it reside now."

"Roderigo, would I played to your distress. I am telling you the truth. I know the husband to be." Iago looked to the skies. "Or husband of her's by now."

"Hold your tongue no more. If you tell the truth, then tell me the name of the man whom I would removed before he consummate his lust on my Desdemona." Roderigo called out in pain while he reached for the dagger he had hidden inside his toga. A weapon of stealth for the elites.

"Aha! You really want to know?" Iago taunt his friend. "You may not be his match."

"Say no more of my being, and tell me who is this being that would dare to snatch my love." Roderigo pushed his friend by the shoulder. "I am at the end of my patience."

"Okay, you forced me." Iago replied. He looked up to the skies and then to the ground. He smiled and then spoke.

"Desdemona is marrying the Legatus I served." Iago told him. "Othello, the one you knew."

"Othello?" Roderigo mumbled out in shock. "Please do not stoke the ashes of my fire. Pray tell me, the truth and nothing that would hurt me, please."

"I tell you the truth, Roderigo. I stand not to win anything if I would to lie to you. I had skipped his ceremony out of respect for you. I joined you in the bathhouse and you mocked me." Iago slumped down on his haunches but Roderigo pulled him up.

"Othello the one who is marrying my love. How dare he do it? I would have his hide for my settee." Roderigo shouted in pain but Iago laughed at him.

"You want to challenge Othello? You are not his equal, much less half of him." Iago told his friend. Roderigo pushed his friend as a sign of defiant. He point to the other.

"Mock me one more time, and we would called it off the friendship we had." Roderigo turned to walked away.

"Hold on!" Iago called to him. "We can still the consummation. Its still early."

Roderigo paused in his steps but he did not turned to look. His head looked down until Iago came forth to stand before him.

"Who do you think can stop the consummation? It cannot be me or you, but we can aid the one who could." Iago spoke to his friend but the solemn looking man was not keen to reply.

"Roderigo, we can called on her father. I know where they are staying." Iago whispered to his friend. Then he spoke up again loudly. "But he who fathered her represent her guardian till she is given away. He can stop it."

"You are mad and I am madder to believe in you. Do you know who is her father?" Iago paused but he then continued. "
Brabatio, the member of Senate."

"Whom I had once seek his approval to marry his daughter, but he had me removed from his hall." Roderigo explained his plight. "He said I am not the one he want as his relative. He wanted someone powerful; one with the influence in the Senate or hold the ears of the Emperor."

"I was not." Roderigo sighed. "I guess I am destined to lose my love."

"That's the not the point." Iago consoled his friend. "Do you think I would be standing here with you if I don't have a strategy to change the outcome of the battle."

Preys & Predators II; Chessmen ( Rated Mature readers only ) 1.18

White Pawn

I stood in front of the old desk facing her. She had me dragged there and into his closed door for the briefing. I asked her again.

"Is Sylvia here?"

"She was placed under Witness Protection Program. You knew that too." Marlene replied. I knew that and with my level of authorization, I was unable to access the database. "I don't know where she was placed. Not until recently, when the local office recruited her brother. They did not know either."

I glared into Marlene' eyes.

"I need confirmation...." I shouted but Marlene intercepted my voice.

"You are here to investigate a serial murder. So get into it, Agent Darren." Marlene shouted back. "Do your job or leave your ID and gun."

It was a standoff between us. I chose the later. I left the ID and gun.

I walked out. I was going to look for Sylvia. I stormed out and decided to take a cab.

"Micheal. You need a lift." It was Simon in his car. "I know a place where we can some drinks. And information."

I nodded.

Soon I was with him, at an underground establishment. It was named a place where the adventurous strolled in. We took a quiet corner and watched the late afternoon crowd. It was slowly cramping in; business suits and casuals, with close proximity and lots of handling. The difference was it was all guys.

"Surprised?" Simon asked me. I looked at him; I was hopeless at reading faces. I did not know he was into this crowd.

"I had to pull up a front for the ladies, and the guys there. We are toughie, to the scums, so I act like one. Your inquiries got back to me. It’s a knitted community." Simon told me, and placed our order for drinks. "More to it, the best informants are here."

"Mickey, come on over." Simon motioned to a guy in the business suit. He looked like a banker, but Simon whispered to me, he run the bookies on this side of the city.

"Mickey, tell Micheal here about the Tempest." Simon told him. Then he looked at me. "He's new to the city and wanted to get into the action." 

Othello the Legatus Act 1 Scene 1 Part 1.3

Prologue 1

Othello stood on the hill over looking the carnage that had taken place here on the hill slope. His Legion of five thousand legionaries had battled the three odd thousand barbarians from the across the borders. It was a bitter sweet victory, as he lost a good friend there, Camus; his Praefectus Pilus. He saw then his trusted Centurion approaching him.

"What news you bring to me from the woods?" Othello asked Iago. The former stood there in his robe as the Legatus; the large rectangle cloak named the paludamentum pinned to the left shoulder, and drapped around the arm, covered his cuirass armor of bronze with the design of the muscles etched on it. His shoes were the adorned with the lion's head while in his hand, was the short sword of his; the parazonium with its hilt carved to resembled the leaping lion on its prey. He was not wearing his helmet but allowed his short curled hair to be bathed by the afternoon sun. It also revealed his dark mask that covered part of his face on the left side, covering an old battle scar when a tribe warrior had burned his face when he was a Centurion. He had killed that warrior with his gladius but the wound left a permanent scar. He was partially blind in the left eye with his cheek wrinkled. He was told with his dark mask; he looked more menacing and was even given a nicknamed, the Dark Legatus.

"I bring good news, Legatus." Iago removed his helmet; the Hellenistic designed piece with the crest of the Legion.

"We had attacked their supply train making their escape from the battlefield." Iago reported in. "The wagons are being towed to our Armicustos."

"Good work there, Iago." Othello praised his friend. Then he looked at Cassio. "You have much to learned from him."

Cassio laughed at the statement. Truly he had much to learned from Iago, like how to steal or plunder from the defeated and then re-sell the stocks at the dark alleys. He knew much of Iago, but he kept his silence as that was not the legion concerned just yet. He did not followed the Legatus back but rode out in a circle before he back tracked to the woods. He rode in a slow trot to viewed the clearing of the dead by the slaves or prisoners while they were guarded by the Legionaries. He dismounted and proceeded on foot to locate the wagons. He found them in the clearing behind the trees; there were twenty of the, but they had half loads each. He walked up to the Armicustos.

"Tell me, are those the loads of capture from the enemies?" Cassio asked.

"Aye, Centurion." The junior administrator replied. He was Cassio informer within the ranks. "We were about to carry them back to the Fort."

"I was told that we had some gold among it." Cassio asked, while he smiled at the officer. He also handed over a silver piece. The other smiled flashing the broken teeth.

"Aye, Centurion. They were taken away by the other wagons." The man told him. "Under the purview of Centurion Iago. I could not do anything. I am just the Armicustos."

Cassio nodded and then walked back to his horse. He knew the man lied. He worked for whoever pays him, and he got his share of the gold too. Now Cassio knew who are the ones to keep an eye on when he gets promoted. 

Preys & Predators II; Chessmen ( Rated Mature readers only ) 1.17

The First Moves

Dark Pawn

Sylvia Graden

White Pawn

Micheal Darren

Dark Knight - Killer

Billie Diane / Billy Dane

Dark Bishop - Hired Killer

Mitch Dane / Brennan.

Dark Queen - Leader

Mary Ketch

White King - Leader

Marlene Phillips.

Dark Pawn

I sat at my table in my office. I was trembling; not from fear but from anxiety. It was Micheal I saw there on the screen. I was sure of that. He had not changed much. He can't be seen with me. That was the reason I left him. I had to focus on what happened here. There are too many coincidences.

Steven, my brother.

Marlene Phillips.

And Micheal was next.

Too many coincidences.

I smelt a mission. Like the old days as the Agent. I picked up the portable. I had to make some calls.

"Peter, it’s me. Sylvia. I need some weapons." Peter dealt in weapons; the untraceable ones. I had procured some arms for him before. It was needed when you operate a club that attracts a lot of attention. I gave him a list of what I needed.

“Sure. Get it ready. I would give you the place later.” I replied to Peter. “Put it on my tab.”

I replaced the portable and then it rang again. It was Bruno.

"Sylvia, we got Steven on the telly." I rushed to the box and turned it on to the news channel. It told me what I feared most. I picked up the portable and called Marlene.

“Marlene, who was it?” I was direct with my question.

“Sylvia, you ~” Marlene tried to pacify me.

“I had enough of your excuses, and tales. Who was responsible for the death of my brother?” I asked again.

Marlene took her time to reply. She must had figured my anger and dallied on her reply.

“It was the Chessmen. They are back under a new Queen. They are responsible for the serial killings~” Marlene was pulling at my patience. I interjected in with my impatience for the truth.

“No! The Queen died then. We destroyed them all~” Marlene retorted back.

“Of which you were not aware. There was one Knight who escaped, and she is the Queen now. Her name is Ketch, Mary Levine Ketch. We know that she escaped with a Pawn named Tom Stern. They are here in the city and we are hunting them.”

Mary? I recalled her name. She was the quiet one, and when she strikes back, it was fast and deep. She had no qualms who she removed in her tasks. She was not the toughest one; that one was shot by me in the head after she plunged the dagger into my left kidney. She was the last Queen.

If there is a new Queen, then I would do it again. After all, I still have one more kidney. 

The Crusaders II The stakes increased 11.10

1.          Citadel of the Gods - The walls of the Citadel

"Catapult incoming!" The Asgardian in the wall warned the other while he also took cover behind the stone wall. The earthen pot hurled by the catapult landed on the walkway a short distance from the Asgardian archers on the wall. The earthen jar exploded on impact and the contents spilled out.

"Scorpions! Bring on the fire torches!" The archers there shout out as they used whatever can be used to bludgeon or burn the dark creatures.

"Mother of God, I am bitten." An archer shouted out as he hold onto his neck. Some of them like him were not so lucky as the scorpions on landing have leap up on the warriors there. All of them were affected except for the Frost Giants. The scorpions have no effect on the icy cold surface of the Frost Giants.

Thor was at the last barricade with the rear guards while the survivors escaped back into the Citadel. He stood there and hurled his hammer out like a boomerang and had it returned back to his hand. An advancing Egyptian warrior managed to crawl up near to Thor and hurled the javelin. The weapon thrust itself into his left forearm causing the Asgard God to screamed out in pain. Thor pulled out the javelin and throw it back at the enemy. With his hammer returned to him,. Thor shouted for the rear guards to retreat. 

"We done our duty. Move back." Thor then threw the hammer into the skies and called on his power. "Strike them down."

A series of lightning struck the Egyptian catapults but many are still standing. Then he saw the flying horses carrying the Valkyries'; they are carrying pots of oil to be released on the enemies. Once they done their round, the archers would shoot those flaming arrows into the oils. There are no such thing in a battle; even the winged horses can be brought down by the enemies archers. This time it was Helga on her wagon. She came like sliding down a tube, but had a softer landing on some Egyptian warriors.

"Sorry, boys. But my children needs me alive." Lady Helga pushed herself up from the heap of bodies, and wobbled to her feet. Her instinct told her duck but with her size able girth, she decided to swing the mace she holds dear to her. The mace deflect the javelin thrown at her.

"Didn't your mother tells you not to throw things?" Lady Helga heaved herself to walked back to the walls. She had one a back metal plate to protect her hind and it deflected more of those javelins. It was the timely arrival of Thor who came rushing while throwing his Mjolnir on the enemies. He stood at the rear of Lady Helga to deflect any advancing javelins. They were to make it back to the gates when Tus Amur notched in the arrow and released it to hit the fat lady in the back at the left forearm.

"Aargh!" Lady Helga screamed out when saw her struggle through the gates. He traced the shot to the archer standing at a distance away.

"None shall Lady Helga!' Thor threw his hammer at the archer and slammed the warrior back by ten metre before Mjonir returned to its master. Ras amour rushed to his dying brother side just before he pulled the last breath. Ras looked at Thor and cursed at him.

"Infidel! You owe me two life now." 

Preys & Predators II; Chessmen ( Rated Mature readers only ) 1.16

Dark Queen

I got the look from Mrs. Treacher who stood before the desk I used for work. She saw me looking and nodded.

"Knight Billie went rogue and shot some off duty officers." Mrs. Treacher told me. "It was the kind of publicity we do not need. He was doing it for Virginia but he was hitting the wrong ones."

"Knight was a good piece, but he was close to her. Billie can be impulsive." I sighed. I liked Billie.

"Mrs. Treacher, I want you to dock all the remaining Knights. I need the operations suspended." I told my aide. It would mean a freeze on all orders for then. Soon I changed my mind.

"New instruction. I want you to run a new operation. You are going to do it personally." Mrs. Treacher was not only ex-military, she was a trained Rangers; marksman in her field. "Remove the team. I need to re-group. Marlene would sniff out the ops if we do not close the trails."

"But Marlene may not be on the trail..." Mrs. Treacher protested on the move.

"Mrs. Treacher, I knew Marlene Phillips. She would be on the trail." I replied. My portable rang; it was a buyer of mine. He was looking for some new organs.

"Sorry, Burke. I am on holiday. You need to go the eastern side for supplies." I told him, but his reply agitated me. "If you go behind my back to any other groups, all deals are off."

Then Burke told me something new. I replaced the portable.

"Mrs. Treacher, leave me. I need to speak to the Investors." They are the ones keeping me alive and operational.

White King

I walked to the basement to see Doctor Brady. I wanted to know more about the victims, and thought of seeing the remains myself. There in the Morgue, I saw the doctor at his work. I been in similar places, and nothing there surprised me. He was working on another body that just arrived.

"Doctor Brady, my name is ...." I was interrupted by the doctor who was using the long metal cutter to break open the ribs cage.

"Senior Agent Phillips." I was impressed by the doctor. He looked fine for his age; in his forties, and from his physique, must have been a football player before. Or at least with the firm body then covered in the scrubs fitted around his frame. I would have shaken his hand but he was armed like a crab then.

"I am here for the details on the dead bodies from the serial killings." I asked the doctor.

"Well, I am doing her." Doctor Brady looked to me. "It’s a lady. She was shot. Twice in the face.”

The doctor passed me the slugs.

“9mm. Very common nowadays.” Doctor Brady sighed. “Forensics would now more.”

It was then the assistant walked in. He handed over some reports to the doctor while the doctor asked me to hand over the slugs. I did as requested, and our faces met.

“Have I seen you before?” I asked the assistant. He smiled at me and shook his head.

“I been told I looked like a celebrity at the bars, but I doubt you would do that same line for me here.” We laughed at his mocking of me doing a pickup line. Soon he left, but the short time, I was with him made me search my mind for a face to match to him.

"Doctor Brady, I am needed at the other sections." I also made the excuse to leave and went upstairs. I went to the computer console and checked some old files. 'Operation Transplant' was the project which I shut down the organ transplant operation then. The Queen was one of the casualties but I was told there were some still at large; the Knight and a couple of Pawns.

Then I found the match. One of those Pawns was the one I saw at the Morgue. His name was Thomas Stern, or Tom. I was sure of it. I ran back to the Morgue and saw Doctor Brady there cleaning up.

"I am looking for Tom." I told the doctor.

"He just left the place. He asked for the day off."

I rushed off to the exit and then to the car park. I saw the van pulled off. I was to shout for reinforcement, but the van was past the corner. Then I saw Micheal pulling in on a cab.

"Did you see where the blue van went?" I shouted at Micheal but he was furious with me.

"I saw Sylvia. So tell me what you know."

The Crusaders II The stakes increased 11.9

1.          European Shrine Swiss Alps

Baal stepped into the prison cell that holds the one unexpected angel in chains; hanging from the ceiling with his toes barely touching the flooring. The angel hangs there with his wings clipped to his upper body with the tight bands around it, leaving only his legs free to move.

"Brother Micheal, how do you fare?" Baal asked of the angel. He had the angel trapped in on of his ruse to here, and kept him here for sometime. The ruse cost him a number of allies and associates but they finally captured the angel. This cell was designed to hold him, as its walls constantly emit a vibration that disrupt the brain waves on the angel making the later unable to think or react.

"That trap was designed by Lucifer. We are using it to trap a lot of others in it. It won't be long before we have more of your brothers' here." Baal stepped in and looked at Micheal. "Your clone as I was advised is doing well in your place up there."

"God will see you punished for this." Micheal shouted out.

"Don't get too emotional, Micheal. Its unlike you." Baal leave the guest hanging there.

Othello the Legatus Act One Scene 1 Part 1.2

"Iago, my dear friend. You are obviously more pained than I thought." Roderigo sat back and laughed. "What ails my favorite Centurion?"

Roderigo looked to the other man. He had knew Iago since when they were youths; Iago was of Roman ancestry while he was a bastard son of one, but his father left him for another. He was raised by his mother who was a Spaniard. She had him named to remembered his grandfather, and among it imparted the skills of the family to him. He became a trader, starting small and then bought himself the caravans.

"Do you not despoil on your mood that Desdemona..." Iago was blunted on his words.

"Hush, my friend. Don't bleed my wound with salt when you know the facts too." Roderigo had his left hand raised from the water. "She is no more of mine, and I had perish her image from my mind." 

Iago laughed out loud and then looked to his friend's agitation look.

"Tell me of my coins." Roderigo turned to change the subject. He may be a friend, but his coins are his family.

"Your coins are not all lost. It just that we made a loss on the deal." Iago told him bluntly. He felt no remorse nor fear of Roderigo. The deal was jointly agreed by the other and even then everything was working for them. The deal was to supply the legions armor but the promotion of Micheal Cassio had stiffen his sleuth hand of switching the order. The Centurion was not even of true Roman blood, but adopted at birth by his foster family who saw it fit to raise a son among the three daughters they had. Senator Thaddeus was a benevolent man and fine Legatus too, but he lack the ambition to be more. He cared too much for his family than his legion at times. He had plucked the kid from the battlefield and had him brought to his wife. He nurtured the boy till his adulthood and paved his promotion to be a Centurion. Such blessing made Cassio a rival of Iago, but the later also displayed great skills in the art of trading.

"Cassio had all my blacksmiths sidelined. He brought in a shipment from outside the city at a lower price on the orders. Its was done by his father's ships. I ended up losing the deposit to the blacksmiths." Iago replied on. "I may be the powerful one among the Legionaries but the blacksmith have the backing of more powerful friends. Even I deal with them on the understanding of true barter but alas I am the one who cannot deliver."

Iago did not tell Roderigo that he was warned by another Legatus; 'back off or faced been send to the remote forts', shall he tempt to steal the shipment. It seems the Cassio family still holds a lot of support from the Legion elders.

"The one that became Pilus should not had been a trader of sorts, but he took the deal to his own gain or more his family gain. He had the backup of the three rich traders, that financed the supply and left us less of the amount of coins." Iago told his failed business partner.

"Was he not claimed to be a bastard of the Goths? They are more than plain barbarians, they are good tradesman too. I dealt with them before, and if the negotiation failed, then I would resort to my barbaric skills." Roderigo was part Spaniard and Italian. He used to be tough with his sword arm more deadlier, but the years of indulging into rich foods and drinks had dulled his fighting skill. More so his trading ones too, which he relied on middle person like Iago to perform.

"Cassio approached the Othello while I was there." Iago ignored his friend's remarks and continued on his part of the discussion. "He knew I was there to talk to Othello on the same issue, and he cut me off. He told Othello like it was his role to safeguard the Legion. The armor was superior to the ones made by the blacksmiths. He made his point and then threw in the offer to Othello."

"And your Legatus agreed." Roderigo said it out like a statement. "Does he not fear the local blacksmiths?"

"Othello feared not the blacksmiths. He does not when he had the ears of the Emperor. He is the favored Legatus now." Iago replied cynically. Under the rule of Emperor Commodus, the Emperor had taken into his own the control of the state affairs. He ruled them with an iron hand.

"Oh, he also admired the older Cassio; his mentor before he came Centurion. Othello agreed there to the new shipment. He refused to even consult me when I offered it to him better advise. I thought for the ten years I had served to him, I would be given a hearing. But not the man whom I served for over ten years. The bastard raised up his hand to shut me up." Iago showed the pose that Othello took that day. "I was upset. Me, his most trusted lieutenant was ignored. To think that I fought by his side for so many battles; with the sword and with my tongue. And my body."

Roderigo laughed out louder.

"For what are you still doing there. You could had left the Legion." Roderigo told him. "Are those scars not enough to tell you otherwise?"

"Me leaving the Legion? Not likely." Iago told his friend. Then he looked around and saw the slave still standing there. He motioned her to come over. He asked her to stand into the bath.

"Take off you clothes." Iago ordered her. She did as he asked. She stood there in her natural beauty with the water lapping above her knees. Iago got up and bend her over. He then thrust himself into her causing her to cry out. He did not stopped there but continued his thrusts. He then grabbed her hips and thrusted into her harder.

"I am serving Othello for my own purpose. We can't all be Legatus and not all Legatus should be followed. Look at her, if she was Legion, she would had work for her life without knowing why. She is stupid to followed that as she is a slave here. They ought to be degraded for being that stupid. Loyalty or submission draws a thin line." Iago pulled himself out from her. He turned her around and pushed her down to the knees. He then did as Roderigo, and continued his speech.

"She can't complained like myself. I am my own Legatus, not so in the rank but in myself. I command my own battles and win on the ones I could, or withdrew to fight another day when faced by defeat. If she was like myself, she would not be subject herself to his degradation." Iago stopped his speech and continue his degradation on the slave. He took his frustration on her and then pulled out at the last moment. He spurt on her face.

"You do not deserved my fluid unless I spat on you." Iago then pushed her away while Roderigo laughed again. The slave crawled away and then stood by her station again. She was more afraid to leave lest she would be subject to worse by the handlers.

"You made a point, but your only avenue was to leave. You are his Pilus and not his Legatus. But you have another profession; be the actor on the stage. You were so convincing."

"Me, an actor? I only act on my own stage. If I was to be Legatus, I would not have one like myself on my Legion. I am seen to like my Legatus as it served me. I was lifted from Centurion Primi to Pilus within five years. He did not pulled me up, I worked hard and he just happened to notice me then. But if I have one like myself in the ranks, I would had him sent to the front to die first."

"I am leaving." Roderigo cut short the personal ego of his friend. Roderigo pulled himself up and took the towel handed by the slave. He wrapped himself, and walked to the doorway. Iago followed suit but stopped at there. He looked to the handler who was standing outside the room.

"Handler, she was dis-obedient. Punish her." Iago walked on while the handler approached the slave who was in tears. He was smiling at the fact that he had sent another one to be punished and that made him happier.

Othello the Legatus Act One Scene 1 Part 1.1

Act One Scene 1 Part 1

The cold weather outside of the bathhouse was never felt by its inhabitants of Roman citizen, who laid their weary bodies into the warm heated water by the large bath enclosure the size of a large rectangle pool. The water in the pool was heated by the long tubing that was lined beneath the marble flooring on the bottom of the pool. At the side of the pool were several benches and there was those small fountains where the water sprout up above its height to give it a towering aqua look. The walls that lined the pool area were numerous mosaic pieces carefully inlaid by craftsman depicting pleasant sceneries of the world. It rise up to the high roofing that opened up to the painted window glass that allowed the sunlight in. It was a busy evening with the place filled by the citizens who indulge in this favorite pastimes, while their daily needs of nutritions are served by scantily dressed slaves bearing trays of it.

There was one slave who carried the laid out exotic fruits pieces while she parade past the pool, but her stare was not on them but to the far door at the end. She wore her toga short which barely covered her well defined curves, and sexuality, but she was only to be envy by these citizens here. Her true master await her inside the small and private bath area, reserved for the elites and influential. She stepped up the doorway and lifted up the thick yet soft screen that hide the room from the outsider.

"Preposterous! How can he be liken to my status as Praefectus castorum?"The man who spoke out in disgust was a tall man with a well built frame on him. He was a veteran of the Roman Legion, having served the services from the rank of centurion to his current rank of Primus Pilus.

"I had given twenty five years of my life to the Legion, and this usurper vault over me." The man continued on his raving towards his friend who shared with him the bath area. He was seated naked on the bath edge except for the loin cloth placed over his lap, but the other companion was without any shame while seated across him on the other edge. He need not be ashamed of his nudity as he was a rich Roman citizen with his numerous caravans of trades that ply the routes into the northern region and also to the dark region where slaves are aplenty. More to it, every woman he was with would had moan that he was great in the act although the frame of his flabby flesh would had screamed otherwise. More to that, he was not listening to his friend as his focus was on the slave that brought the tray of fruits. He liked these Nubian slaves, they are exotic to his likes. He had pulled the slave towards him and lifted up the hem of the toga to looked at her body.

"She may be untouched, Iago." Roderigo told his legionary friend. "Perhaps you might want to have the first pluck."

"Bah! You are not listening to me." Iago lowered himself into the warm water, covering the numerous scars on his body, courtesy of his devotion to fulfilled his own destiny to be the Legatus, the ultimate commander of the Legion.

"Why does it ails you, Iago? You are not like demoted. You still hold your rank as Pilus." Roderigo lauded towards his friend. With the assistance of Iago, his caravans were safe on their routes backed by the papers endorsed by the Pilus. He held an influential position in the works, for he was also well connected to the Senate.

Roderigo meanwhile had stood up on his feet and took the slave to bend before him. He placed his penis into her mouth and made her do what was her role. He held onto her head and moved it back and forth.

"Here, my friend. Take her from the rear. Which one matters not? I would amused myself here." Roderigo told his friend, but Iago declined the offer. His mind was not on sex, but on the discrimination handed to him, by his Legatus, Othello. He had served the Legatus for over five years, and fought many campaigns with him; mortally wounded twice and with the will of the Gods, he was saved. He still felt the pain on his left side on some cold nights, but he dared not tell his Legatus lest he retired him from the Legion. For what was his allegiance to the Legatus but to be told that he was no better than the weakling Cassio, another Pilus like him before but then promoted to become the Praefectus.

"Hurry, my friend. I am to released', Roderigo called on the other but Iago remained seated in the warm water. By the end of the sentence, the humping man held his pose to released his body fluids into the oral cavity of the slave. He then pushed her away and climbed into the bath. The slave took her leave of the bath area to stand by the far wall, awaiting her next request. She was after all just a slave.

"Ah! The refreshing feel of the warmth here covered more than there. I am truly contented. Or should I not be." Roderigo muttered to himself. Iago looked to him and asked him in a cynical tone.

"Are you to dirty this bath with your....release?" Iago glared at the other. Roderigo laughed out on the question raised to him. 

Othello the Legatus - Act 1 Prelude

The synopsis of the tale.

The story of William Shakespeare's Othello is set in16th-century Venice and Cyprus. Othello the Moor, a noble black warrior in the Venetian army, has secretly married a beautiful white woman called Desdemona, the daughter of a prominent senator, Brabantio. When he finds out, he is outraged, and promptly disowns her.

Othello’s ensign, Iago, harbors a secret jealousy and resentment towards the Moor, partly because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted ahead of him, and also because he suspects that Othello has had an affair with his wife. Intent on revenge, Iago hatches a devious plan to plant suspicions in Othello’s mind that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. He orchestrates a street fight, for which Cassio is wrongly blamed, and is then dismissed from his post by Othello. Desdemona takes up Cassio’s case with her husband, which only further inflames his suspicions that the pair are lovers.

In the meantime, Iago manages to procure a treasured handkerchief from Desdemona that was given to her by Othello. He plants it on Cassio so that Othello sees it, then concludes that it is proof of their affair. Maddened by jealousy, he orders Iago to murder Cassio, and then he strangles Desdemona. Immediately afterwards her innocence is revealed, and Iago’s treachery exposed. In a fit of grief and remorse Othello kills himself. Iago is taken into custody by the Venetian authorities.

Now to my version.

ACT 1

Prelude to Act 1

The Hall that was to be used for the wedding was a huge one with the large status of the Goddess Venus over looking the congregation that was presented there. It was not a large group, but it numbered a few notable elites citizen of the Roman finest. They were there to attend the exchange of vows of two young deserving person.

"Marcel Othello, will you live with this lady for the rest of both your life's?" The person who asked was dressed in the toga with the gold borders which showed the position of the wearer in society. Othello, the groom looked to lady he was to be wed and smile. He then looked at the Legatus who command another Legion like his, but that other was older and had seen more battles. 

"Yes, I will." Othello replied. He looked to the lady that stand before him. His eyes searched her's beneath the veil. The lady in question did not wait for her cue but jumped to answer her vows.

"Yes, I agreed." the lady named Desdemona rushed to her consent. The groom then took from his sleeve the ring that would sealed their vows. Othello looked to her and smiled. He took her hand and placed the ring onto her finger. He knew none who was more deserving than her for his love. He had loved her for some time then, but their times were few what with his commitment of the Legions which called him to many borders. Despite that their love grew, and came to this point where they are to exchange their vows.

The assembled there cheered and raised their cups of wine to the union. They approached the new couple with their pleasantries until one who had drunk mor than her share, asked the painful question.

"Desdemona, had I missed your father or he is not here?" The drunk asked the sober couple.

"He is not here." Othello replied. "He was not invited."