LORRAINIA cried out. “Help me someone.” she said.
“Shut up!” said Jandicius putting his hand over her mouth, “You don’t want anyone else to hear us, do you? Ah, why don’t I make this an accident? A drowning accident? No! A suicide.” Lorrainia looked around. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the pool coming into her line of sight. “All I have to do is push you into the pool and keep your head underwater until you drown. Then, I’ll tell Mark Antony and Octavius that you were so grief stricken over your mistress’s abduction that you took your own life.”
“You will have to do a lot of killing to convince us, Jandicius.”
Jandicius turned around to see who it was. It was Mark Antony accompanied by Octavius. Lorrainia noticed that Jandicius’s being startled had caught him off guard. Immediately, she pried his hand away from her mouth and bit it. Jandicius cried out in pain as Lorrainia broke free. Meanwhile her captor dropped his dagger and she picked it up and pointed it to him.
“Lorrainia.” asked Octavius, “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” said Lorrainia, “But Heston’s gone.”
“Do not fear, my child.” said Antony, “He can’t have gone too far. Why was Jandicius attacking you?”
“Because he wouldn’t let me tell you about Heston’s going after my mistress and the those two boys.”
“You mean the sons of Caesar?” said Jandicius.
“What?” exclaimed Octavius.
“That’s impossible.” said Antony, “Caesar and Calpurnia tried to conceive and failed. He even order me to whip her on the Lupercal to drive out the curse of sterility.”
“Then why did I overhear Calpurnia call one of the boys ’Jules’ the other night?” asked Jandicius.
“Because that’s probably his name.” said Antony. Then he realized something. A look at Octavius told him the same thing. Putting two and two together, the two cottoned to the fact that Jandicius had a hand in the kidnapping. Turning back to Jandicius he asked “Where are Calpurnia and the boys?”
“Are you asking me?” asked Jandicius.
“Yes.” said Antony, “You were involved in the kidnapping weren’t you.”
“Answer the question, Jandicius.” demanded Octavius.
“And if I was involved, what are you going to do about it?” asked Jandicius.
“We’ll ask you why did you do it.” said Antony.
“Then I’ll tell you why.” said Jandicius, “I am a Roman and a patriot. Long live the Republic!”
“Guards. Some of you secure Jandicius. The others go find Heston and detain him.” Order Antony.
But Jandicius jumped some of the guards and escaped running into the house with the guards following. Meanwhile, Antony and Octavius motioned to McFlius to come out.
“Take Lorrainia into the house and give her some wine.” said Antony, “And then get the maids to take her to bed. She had a rough day.”
“Yes, my lord.” said McFlius taking Lorrainia into his arms and doing thus.
After this, a sound of a window breaking was heard followed by a cry. A figure was seen from the second story of the house flying out of a window and plummeting to the earth. Then a guard came out of the house.
“It was Jandicius.” he said.
“Apparently he would rather die than sympathize with those who loved Caesar and his plans.” said Antony.
Then, another soldier came into the yard. “We can’t find Charlton Heston
anywhere on the property.”
“Alright.” said Octavius, “Fan out. Check the city and double the guards at the gate. He must not leave the city.” The guards complied. Turning to Mark Antony, Octavius said “Let’s go over to Brutus’s house. The letter said for Heston to talk to his wife Portia. Perhaps we’ll find him there.”
Immediately, a group of selected men came to the side of the two leaders of Rome and accompanied them to the house of Brutus.
Wednesday, March 18, 44 B.C.
3:45 p.m.
Over the Adriatic Sea
After the light dissipated, Marty saw some ships in the distance. Stirring the car towards them, he opened the glove compartment and took out a pair of binoculars to use. After some searching, he spotted someone resembling Biff. It was Brutus standing there on the deck of the ship. Marty managed to hover the car nearby so he could watch him go below which he did.
Okay McFly, he said to himself, Remember where he went and when you get out, remember where you parked.
He hovered the car onto the part of the opposite of the place that Brutus went to and landed the car. As he did, he heard a thud. Looking out the window, he saw two of the soldiers turn to see where the sound came from.
Oh geez, Marty said to himself, I’ve landed too hard. Now I’m gonna have company.
Immediately, he reached into the glove compartment and took out the sleep inducer. The soldiers were on the part of the ship and looking about. One of them found himself in the general area of the DeLorean. He was almost on top of the car but his back was turned. Seeing this, Marty quietly opened the window and sleep induced him. Then, he pulled him into the car and removed his uniform. Then, he put on the uniform and tied up the guard using the string of banners that he and Doc got from 1955 when he was chasing down Old Biff and the Almanac and gagged him. Then, he got out of the car and headed towards the opening. That’s when a voice was heard.
“Lucilius.”
Marty turned around and saw that the second soldier was talking to him.
++++++
As Antony and Octavius approached the house, they motioned the guards to stay out of sight while they talked to Portia.
After a knock on the door, they were greeted by a servant who asked “Can I help you?”
“Yes.” said Octavius, “We would like to talk to Portia if you don’t mind.”
“Just one minute.” said the servant who closed the door momentarily. A few moments later, that servant came back saying “Come this way.”
Octavius and Antony were escorted to Portia’s sewing chamber where she sat sewing.
“Portia.” said Octavius.
Portia looked up and said “Well if it isn’t Mark Antony and the boy wonder.”
Unperturbed, Antony said “Portia, the ‘boy wonder’ is the heir to Julius Caesar the man your husband murdered days ago.”
“I know who he’s heir too.” said Portia, “Care for some wine?”
“We did not come here to drink.” said Octavius, “We’re here to ask you a question.”
“Fire away.” said Portia.
“Where is Charlton Heston?” asked Octavius.
“Who?”
“Charlton Heston! The man your husband chased down in a chariot race last week. Your husband accused him of causing seventy-eight drachma’s damage to his chariot.”
“Oh him. What does this have to do with me?”
Immediately, Octavius showed Portia the letter saying “This letter said for him to meet you here.”
“What for?”
“Don’t play stupid with us, Portia. You know why. Do we have to spell it out for you? Calpurnia, the widow of Julius Caesar, has been kidnapped along with a couple of boys. This letter said for him to go to meet Brutus if he wanted to see them alive. And it said for him to visit you and that you knew where your husband is holding those three captive.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I want you to leave or I’ll have to call one of your own guards to escort you out of here.”
“No need. They’re here already.”
He gave out a whistle and immediately some of the guards came into the room as if they came out of the woodwork.
“Take her to the rostra and secure her.” said Octavius.
“Yes, Caesar.” said captain of the guard.
Immediately, Portia broke free and ran to the door only to be greeted by some more soldiers. She ran into another part of the house but there were soldiers there too.
“It’s hopeless, Portia.” said Octavius, “We’ve got the house surrounded.”
Portia looked hopelessly around. Then, she said “You can’t take me alive.” And ducked into the nearest room and closed the door.
Both Octavius and Antony tried the door to no avail. It was locked.
To one of the guards, Octaviius ordered “Kick down the door.”
The guard did. Once inside, Octavius and Antony saw Portia lying on the floor near a fireplace. There seemed to be smoke coming out of her mouth. Immediately, they went over to pick her up. When they did, they realized that it was smoke coming out of her mouth. Her eyes were glazed and her face was pale.
“Check to see what’s in her mouth.” said Antony and one of the soldiers did.
He reached into her mouth put pulled out his hands saying “It’s hot.”
Another soldier picked up a tong and reached in her mouth to extract something. It was coal. Antony and Octavius checked for breath but there was none.
“She’s dead.” said Antony.
Turning to the other soldiers, Octavius said “Search the house. She might’ve used a map to show Heston where Brutus is hiding.” Turning to Antony, he said of Portia “She was Cato’s daughter.”
“The same Cato that Julius drove to suicide.” said Antony. Turning some of the guards he said “Take her from us, lay her down and cover her.” The guards complied.
++++++
Marty stood there speechless. Then he said “Yes?”
“Did you find out what the noise was?” asked the soldier.
“No.” said Marty, “Did you?”
“No.” said the soldier. “Lucilius. Are you alright. Your voice…”
“Hey don’t worry about me pal.” said Marty, “Just tell Brutus that we found nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Yes sir.” said the soldier and he left.
With the soldier gone, he removed the real Lucilius and put him into a hidden corner of the deck. Then, he went down to the entranceway where Brutus went.
But when he arrived, he was stopped by as soldier who asked “Your password please.”
Marty stood there in awed silence. This is nuts! he said to himself.
++++++
After a search of the house, one of the guards found a map. There some writing on it.
“It’s Portia’s handwriting.” said Antony, “It shows where Brutus is holding the hostages.”
“Prepare an army.” said Octavius, “We march immediately.”
“Very well.” said Antony, “Come all. Let’s prepare ourselves. It shall be an honor to face Brutus and his constituents again.”
Immediately, Octavius and Antony took their men and went back to Caesar’s house.
++++++
On their way back, Flavius complained “It’ll take days for us to reach Salonae.”
“Why?” asked Septimus.
“Well, it’s a long trip around the Adriatic to reach our goal.”
“Or we could take a short cut through the sea.”
“You mean take a barge?”
“Of course. How else can we rescue Caesar’s widow before nightfall?”
Flavius’s eyes popped wide open. “And I had a snack before coming over here.” he said.
++++++
The guard stood right there waiting for the password from Marty. Marty had to think of something fast. He was contemplating rendering the guard unconscious with the sleep inducer but he had to make sure that the guard doesn’t see the device. Then he hit on something.
“Your password please.” repeated the guard.
“Hey buddy.” said Marty pointing at something “Look! What’s that.”
“You may pass.” said the guard admitting Marty in.
Marty gave out a little laugh. Son of a bitch! he said to himself.
++++++
Upon hearing about the expedition to rescue the three hostages, McFlius approached Mark Antony saying “Sir I would like to come along.”
“You can’t.” said Antony, “This expedition is for soldiers. I can’t take servants along.”
“Please.” said McFlius, “Charlton Heston’s on his way over there.”
“What does that have to do with your request?”
“It’s a feeling.” said McFlius, “Every time I look upon him, or think of him, I’m thinking that somehow my own future is involved in this.”
Octavius came in. Upon overhearing what McFlius said, said to Antony “It would be a good idea if we have a servant come with us.” Turning to McFlius, he said “But you must stay out of the way. Once we’re in battle, you must go down to the lower decks and wait till the fighting stops.”
“I will.” said McFlius, “And thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” said Octavius as McFlius went to prepare himself for the journey that awaits him.
++++++
After a thorough search of the ship, Marty saw two guards guarding a door.
He approached them immediately saying “Alright, you guys. I’m relieving you.”
“We just started our shifts.” said one of the guards.
“There must been a mistake.” insisted Marty, “Brutus said it was me doing the guarding tonight.”
“Who are you?” asked the guard.
“Do you want to see my credentials?” asked Marty. “Here they are.”
He produced the sleep inducer and used it on the soldier rendering him unconscious. Then, he punched out the other guard after which he opened the door. There on the other side were the hostages.
“Calpurnia.” he said, “Jules, Verne.”
“Marty!” they said.
“Hey keep it down.” said Marty in a hushed voice, “I’m here to get outta here.”
“Marty.” whispered Jules, “How did you get here.”
“The DeLorean.” said Marty as he was undoing the ropes on all three of them, “Don’t worry it’s cloaked. Now let’s get the hell outta here.”
They barely were out the door and into the hallway when they ran into Brutus.