ELEVEN AND STRANDED: The Beginning

The Campfire

'Attention all members of Camp Hidauigoa there will be a campfire tonight at 9:30 in the Square. For you military addicts that is 2130 hours. We have many scits planned. One will be the legend of the Ninth Legion. Come one, come all and we will have a banquet following the fire. Let us feast and gather in fellowship.'

Meridius "Lyn I can get you into to praetor stand for the duration of the fire. However we will be walking around and interacting with every member of this Legion. Stay at my side and you will be fine." Lyn "I will stand with you. But let's get one thing straight." "Whatever you wish. After all you are technically my daughter." "You don't talk to me as if you are my father because we both know you aren't." "This is very true. Also there is more to this camp than just its size and activities. You see that flag up there on the strategic defense center?" "Yeah." "That is the flag of the abstained 'Tainted Legion'. This Legion has a history behind it. You will learn that tonight." "How long do we have before the campfire?" "About a half hour. It is 2100 hours now." "What time is it?" "I forgot, you weren't raised on military time. It is 9:00 now." "Can I clean up a little bit? I've been on the run for a little over a week and haven't had the chance to actually stop and get clean." "Right this way."

2130 hours the gathering has began. "Praetor Meridius are we ready to begin?" "Indeed you are Juls. Begin with the first act I will give the legend at the end." "Yes sir." "Lyn you are going to enjoy this. If you are anything like your mother you will enjoy all of our acts tonight." "I didn't see my mother that much so how would I know?" "You will begin to recognize yourself in some of these skits." "Alright, I guess I can do that. So what is there to snack on?" "During the fire I don't think you will even remember you are hungry after the first 3 acts." "How can I ignore my stomach ache unless I get something to eat?" "Alright I'll see what you can have." "Thank you." "Corporal send a menu this way." "On its way sir." "Now some of these items are Ancient Greek recipes and I will tell you what is in it." "Thank you." "Here we are, the gyros are the best. Any kind of meat you might want except for steak, ribs and human flesh. They come with a sour cream type sauce and lettuce. Really you could have anything on it you want. Ah yes here is the Specials. Salonica Tresinia, more popularly known as Nectar. Some say you have not lived until you have tasted Nectar. Most popular you may recall from that book in your hand was Tyson. Well that was in the movie not the book. Anything catching your eye yet?" "I think I might go with the gyro." "Chef George we have an order for you." "Ah yes always a pleasure to be serving you sir. And for the lady?" "Chicken gyro with sauce on the side, no onions." "Yes sir, will be done in 10 minutes." "Make that five and I might actually pay you this time." "We don't charge for our food." "Well I'm willing to pay you six gold drachmas if you deliver in five minutes." "Well I can't pass up that deal, not a second more than five minutes otherwise there is no charge." "Best you get going." "Wait you don't pay for food here?" "Not usually but I feel like he desrves it because he is missing the first act." Five minutes later Chef George is walking up the stairs. "One second more and you would have missed the ending of the first act." "They do this act every time we have a fire it's nothing special." "Ah but there is one you haven't heard before."

The final act begins at 2200 hours. MCRC steps up in front of the fire. Lyn steps up as well. "Warriors of the astounded 1st legion. This is Lyn Gillepsi and she will need a house." "First Cohort only takes skilled warriors." "Second Cohort wishes to train and train and train." "Third Cohort will accept new Centurion, I am stepping down." "Third Cohort choose your new Centurion wisely." "Fourth Cohort willing to train new member." "Lyn you will become a member of the Fourth Cohort. Centurion Adams step forward." "Praetor I will do my best to train her and make her part of the family. All I need to know is who the Godly parent is." "Adams just forget that part, besides, she is off limits." "Why do you always have to kill my vibe?" "Because in a weird way I am technically her step-father." "What?" "Her father left in quite a hurry at the beginning of the Great War. Her mother was heart broken when she found out the truth. She also went into a sort of coma when she found out Lyn disappeared from school." "So Lyn is your step-daughter?" "Not exactly. More like I'm her godfather. I happen to be really close with her mother. In fact at one point in time I was closer to her than everyone else. We dated briefly back in her first two years in Moniteau and then we kind of fell out of touch. She still trusts me more than anyone else. Now you must all return to your seats because the highlight of the campfire tonight is as follows."

"And now the moment you have all been waiting for, the legend of the Ninth Legion. In 220 AD the Ninth Legion marched North of the Great Wall separating the Romans from the Barbarians. 10,000 soldiers went North only to vanish. The Forth Cohort was the standard bearer. When they came under attack, the painted warriors of the Seal People took the Eagle and hid it farther north than the Romans would dare travel. One day Centurion Marcus Flavious Aquilla took command of a small legion assigned to protecting a portion of the Wall. He sent out a patrol that never returned and then he himself lead a small group of legionaries to regain his soldiers and transport them back to safety inside the Wall. He then began to fight the Barbarians and protect his own. The Barbarians brought forth chariots. Centurion Marcus Flavious Aquilla took his shot with a spear and struck one of the drivers causing the chariot to upset itself. He was carried to his uncle's house by way of mule cart. Nearly killed him on the journey. When he got to his uncle's house he was taken to one of the local arenas where he witnessed an act of courage performed by a slave. He alone convinced the crowd to spare the slave, saving his life. Three days later his uncle brought him that slave. The slave's name was Esca. Esca is the eldest son of the slain chief of the Brigantes tribe. Together the two of them set forth on a journey that was originally thought impossible. With the help of his slave he survived long enough to realize something was wrong. During one of their rest stops they were ambushed. Aquilla himself killed everyone who ambushed them because Esca couldn't bring himself to take the life of another man."

"For three days they marched on and then they were attacked a second time. Aquilla told Esca to take the attacker's life. Esca again refused and when he moved for the kill Esca yelled, chin-strap scar, only a Roman helmet does that. Upon closer examination sure enough the attacker had the chin-strap scar. He asked him for a name. The attacker spoke a different language. He again asked for a name when Esca put pressure on his neck using his knife. The attacker finally spoke in Roman. He said his name was Lucious Guis Totalis, and identified himself as a member of the Fourth Cohort Ninth Legion. It was then they learned the truth. He ran from the battle and betrayed his Legion. Joined up with a tribe and began a family there. Aquilla found out the truth about Esca. However Esca has been keeping him alive by lying. His way of not telling the truth kept Aquilla alive for a lot longer than he would have if they had gone straight to the source. Once they encountered the Seal People, it was when they were fighting each other. Esca told the Painted Warriors that Marcus Aquilla was his slave, saving his life once again. Never has there been record of a slave who will go through anything possible to protect his own master. Esca is the true meaning of honor and freedom. Later that very same night after the Painted Warriors were asleep, Esca woke Aquilla and took him to the Eagle. There was a short battle to gain control over the Eagle and thankfully they didn't call for back up."

"The Seal People begin to track Esca and his so called slave to repossess the Eagle and kill Esca for betraying his people. They traveled South, back towards the Wall. Aquilla was injured and couldn't make the full journey home. He and Esca rested on a small island in the middle of a river that was only knee deep. Marcus Aquilla told Esca to leave him and make sure the Eagle made it back to Rome. Esca refused to leave his side unless given his freedom. Aquilla hands him the dagger that shows his bond and again tells him to make sure the Eagle made it back to Rome. Esca refuse to take the Eagle and said he would return. He started running and only stopped to look for horses or members of the missing Legion. When he found more members of the Ninth Legion he returned to Aquilla as he had promised and together they defend the Eagle against the Painted Warriors of the Seal People. They are successful and then continue to move South back to the Wall. The members of the lost Legion leave them and go different ways. Three weeks later Marcus Flavious Aquilla and Esca march into the Senate building in Rome. Everyone makes a path for them to go through because they are carrying the Golden Eagle of the Ninth Legion. Aquilla lays the Eagle on the table and says, 'this is for my father'. One Senator says, 'I congratulate you boy, Rome congratulates you, however did you do it?' Another man standing in the room says with only a slave to help you. Aquilla instantly responds to that and says Esca is not a slave, and he knows more about honor and freedom than you ever will. They turn and walk out. Esca asks what they are going to do next. Aquilla responds I don't know, you decide. That is the legend of the Ninth Legion. Thank you and have a good night. You are all dismissed to your tents."