The New Era Chapter 17

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW ERA
Hans and Kyoko went into the adjoining room. Hans shut the door behind him.
"Do you think we can talk freely in here?" asked Kyoko. "Are they listening in on our conversation?"
"They probably are, but that's not going to stop me from speaking freely. I'll tell you right now Kyoko, I'm not sure if we can trust these people. Do you think that story we heard was true? The man who told it too us was very strange."
Kyoko nodded. "I agree, but we're not going to get anywhere if we sit around debating the truth of it. They hold all the cards right now, we can't prove or disprove the story, so why don't we just act on the assumption that it's correct, and be cautious in case it's not."
"Good idea. Assuming it's correct, I'd say we have a choice to make. Do we move out of the city like they want us to, or refuse to move."
"It's really not our decision. We haven't been chosen by The Watchers as their representatives, and so we can't speak for them."
"Unfortunately, however, I don't think we have a choice. These people are going to want an answer. I guess we'll have to give them an unofficial one, and then check back with The Watchers later."
"Sounds good. What answer shall we give them?"
"Well, I don't know about you but I don't think The Renegades appreciate our position. We Watchers couldn't survive without our technology. We have none of the skills necessary for survival in the outside world. Besides which, I don't think destroying The Watchers is essential to their plan anyway. Once Gaius is stopped, we will make no more trouble for them. They simply want to eliminate us because it's easier then helping us."
"Hans, your playing with fire. We can't fight The Renegades, they're too powerful."
"I'm willing to bet that their war with the gods is going to keep them too busy to worry about us Watchers. Also, if we Watchers use only non violent resistance, The Renegades should respond the same way. Besides, I can't think of a better option. Leaving the city could be just as deadly for the Watchers as resisting."
"I can't argue with that. Alright, lets give him our answer."


The man looked up when he heard the door opening. "Ah, good your ready to deliver our message to The Watchers."
"We will tell them what you told us," Hans said. "We do believe, however, that a better solution exists to the problem at hand then disassembling The Watchers. We don't think you appreciate the-"
"Look Hans," the man cut him off, "I hate to be blunt but you aren't being given a choice here. You must leave the city or else."
"Or what?"
"We'll come down and drag every last Watcher out of that city if we have to."
"It looks like your going to have to," Hans responded.
The man looked at Kyoko. "Don't tell me your a party to this too."
"I'd like to see The Watchers and The Renegades work together. We share many common goals. Perhaps we can-"
Kyoko was cut off as the man broke in. "Listen, I'll be honest with you, we need your corporation. I know I was just threatening to drag The Watchers out by force, but we can't do that. We have neither the time nor the energy to expend on it. I need your help."
"We want to work together also," Hans said, "but we will not leave the city."
The man sighed with anger. "Alright, I will reconvene with the others, and see if a compromise can be reached. In the meantime, I'll have you escorted to some temporary quarters." As if on cue, an Elf walked through the door. "Escort Hans and Kyoko to their quarters." The Elf nodded and left.
As they were leaving the room, Hans turned to the man. "One last question, you said that the information you related could destroy The Watchers. How?"
The man shrugged. "I didn't want to drag The Watchers into our war. Once you know what is going on, the gods might see you as a threat, and find some way to destroy you."


Gaius proudly surved his growing army. Already he had about fifty men, and the number was increasing every day. Gaius began to feel the heat of the sun, and ducked into his tent. Once there, he unrolled his plans. He had promised Bakes a little demonstration, and now he was ready. He planned to completely destroy the nearby town. His army, eager for more treasure, could loot it for all it was worth. Then, the next time Bakes tried to negotiate with Gaius, Gaius would have the upper hand. Bakes wouldn't dare offend him again, and Gaius couldn't wait to see Bakes grovel on his computer screen.
Gaius rolled his plans back up again. He heard a humming sound behind him, and turned around. In his tent where two balls of light, each about ten centimeters in diameter. Instinctively Gaius pulled out his laser gun, but the balls did not do anything. Cautiously, Gaius reached out his hand and touched one. Nothing happened. Then, the balls of light transformed themselves into two men.
"Who are you?" asked Gaius.
"We are Titos, servants of the gods."
"The gods?"
"Do not alarm yourself Watcher. We are here on friendly terms."
"How do you know I'm a Watcher."
"We are servants of the gods, we know everything the gods know."
"Gods? What are you talking about? You don't believe in gods, do you?"
"Once you find out what we can do for you, you won't care what we believe in."
"What can you do for me?"
"Anything you want. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cretal."
Cretal's companion stepped forward. "My name is Elim."
Gaius was too excited to notice these introductions. "You can do anything I want?"
"Anything you want."
"I want gold for my men, lots of gold." Gaius was still talking when Cretal pointed at the ground. Immediately, the ground in Gaius' tent was covered with gold. Gaius' jaw dropped open. He turned to Cretal. "You did that?" Cretal nodded. "Of course, I don't want the men coming into my tent to get the gold. Can you transport it to the center of the camp." Cretal snapped his fingers, and the gold was gone. Soon, the soldiers cry of jubilation was heard. The possibilities were rapidly beginning to fill Gaius' head. "How do you do this? Why do you want to help me?"
"Do not trouble yourself with too many questions Gaius. Don't question your good fortune, rather enjoy it. What do you want us to do?"
Gaius stepped outside. Elim and Cretal followed him. "I want Pericula, Kile, and Drusus. I want them brought before me now. I want them imprisoned before my eyes."
Elim nodded his head, and three green boxes appeared on the ground. The boxes were transparent, but when Gaius reached out to touch one they were solid. Elim nodded his head again, and Pericula, Kile, and Drusus each were imprisoned in a separate box.
Pericula was understandably quite confused. One minute she had been riding on the back of a horse next to Drusus, the next she was imprisoned in a green box. She immediately recognized her surroundings as the camp. She also saw Gaius starring at her in glee, as well as the two strange men. "What's going on?" she demanded to know.
Gaius only laughed in response to her question. He looked at his three prisoners, all of them equally confused. Kile, Gaius noticed, had bandages on his side and shoulder. Gaius remembered Kile's humiliating order to clean the latrines. "All three of you tried to humiliate me," Gaius said aloud. "Now I will have my revenge."
"Gaius, what's going on?" Pericula demanded to know. "Where are we?"
Gaius turned to Elim. "I want intense pain flowing through Pericula's body, but no physical damage." Elim pointed at Pericula. Immediately, Pericula screamed as she twisted in pain. "Gaius stop it! For Deka's sake stop it!"
Gaius nodded to Elim, and he put down his hand. Pericula's body relaxed somewhat as the pain left it. "Let that be a lesson to you Pericula. You are in my control now. Don't ask any questions, when I want you to know something, I'll tell you." Gaius turned to Elim. "That was very well done, I liked that. Do the same thing to all three of them now, and don't stop until I tell you to." Elim pointed in the general direction of the three prisoners, and soon they were all twisting in agony.
Cretal went up to Gaius. "Do you plan to kill them?"
"Eventually, but there's no hurry. Why kill them soon when I can send them to living hell right here."
"You're one sick son of a bitch Gaius." Cretal laughed. "I like you already."


Hans stared at his cards. He didn't know which one to play. He had two left, playing the one to the right would be risky, but beneficial if it paid off. The one to the left would be safe, but with no real advantage.
"Come on Hans, are you going to play or what?" Hans and Kyoko had been waiting in their quarters. They had been very nervous at first, knowing the fate of the city was being discussed. To try and relax a little, they had decided to play cards. They found the replicators in the room to be very similar to the ones in the city, and had replicated a pack of cards.
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking. You can't rush these things you know." Hans started to lay the one on his left, but pulled it back. Hans quickly threw down the card on his right, and clenched his teeth as he waited for Kyoko to move.
Kyoko looked down at the card, and then looked up at Hans. A smile broke out across her face. Hans shook his head. "Oh no, please tell me you don't have it."
"Not this time Hans. Another game?"
"Sure, why not."
Kyoko picked up the cards and started shuffling. "So, it looks like your little bluff paid off." It was the first thing either of them had said about the meeting with that man since they had walked into the room.
"Yeah, I was lucky. Hopefully my luck will hold out. The Renegades might decide to use force against The Watchers after all."
Kyoko began dealing. "I don't think that will happen. We both have so much more to gain if we work together."
Hans nodded. "Hopefully they'll see that."
The door opened. Hans and Kyoko turned to see the man enter the room. "What did you decide?" Kyoko asked.
"We haven't arrived at a conclusion yet. Something urgent has come up. It's Gaius again."
Hans leaped to his feet. "What's he doing now?"
"He's got help from the Titos."
"Titos?"
"Didn't I tell you about Titos, Hans? They're the servants of the gods. They helped Gaius capture Drusus, Kile, and Pericula."
"You've got to stop them!" Hans exclaimed.
"We can't. It's up to you."