So ... There's nothing you can do about it? Said the Emperor rising from his litter and moving away from the rustic yet advanced apparatus above his head, that, minutes before showing inside his skull a terrible fate.

  -I am afraid not, great Caesar- replied, in a voice automated voice, the robotic man who nursed him- according to the scanner, you do not have much longer.

  Caesar layed his hands to his face, covering his eyes in disbelief. How could he, the man who was destined to unify this great country of old, become the victim of such an unpredictable disease like this?

  -And what about the changes you have given me, can't they help me? - Asked Caesar, removing the hands from his face, in a vague hope that he might escape his fate.

  - I'm afraid they are not much great help, Caesar - said the robot- this disease was incurable before The Disaster and the Administration and even the changes that my Masters gave you were not designed for medical purposes.

  -So There's nothing else to discuss here- said Caesar, his mind made, standing up and looking around.

  His tent was just a shack compared to his luxurious palace in the Capital, but had some comfort and personally, Caesar preferred it that way. It consisted of a red-black canvas eighteen meters in diameter and six meters in width and height divided into a hallway, a throne room and a staff room for Caesar, the floor was all covered with animal skins layed by his slaves, for the supreme leader of the Legion did not have to touch the mundane ground as his soldiers did, they were his most precious possessions as his armor and swords, a table with maps, his bed, his campaign throne, composed of a chair made of a tree old called Sequoia, which were in abundance in the Capital, covered with fur and a golden eagle on top, the last thing he had in his tent was the technological litter it was in this time during his morning appointment before his soldiers woke up. This was in a side room to the left of his throne.

  -Wait sir! - said the robot - you should not move!

  But Caesar payed him no mind, for his mind went back to the beginning of his great Legion. Since the day was over training with his master, the traitor who was now on the run in your great nation's borders, even when he had won the seven tribes that inhabited the now its capital New Rome before it came to be the magnificent metropolis that was today. And using both his savagery and his tactical intelligence, won the outskirts of the city in ruins. His mind daydreamed in memories and nostalgia as he rose from bed, and threw away the patient clothing that the robot had given him for the diagnosis, so his well-defined physique, own someone who always trained martial skills, and then covered the lower parts for soon after started wearing his gear, one of the best of the entire Legion. It had been made in the image of the people to which Caesar so admired, Romans were their name, those who, for a time, were the most advanced and cultured civilization that has ever lived on this earth until they were overthrown by both the hordes of enemies as the decadence and greed of their leaders. His armor consisted of a breastplate of polished and painted copper red with a golden eagle on his chest, this was his personal symbol and all its national banner and a testament to his power, he had no boots, he had instead leather sandals but these were reinforced by iron buttons for some protection, and had no pants but a skirt made of a mixture of copper and leather with all ending in triangles and decorated in the same colors of the breastplate, and bracelets were made in order to fit on his forearms and with five rings so that even losing their weapons he could fight in hand-to-hand with his opponent. After wearing all his armor Caesar went to look for his helmet and when he was close to get the final piece of the doctor stopped him.

  Wait sir - said the robot in an alarm tone holding Caesar by the arm - you need care and rest to keep your condition under control.

  -This will not change what will happen to me!- said the Emperor firmly - if this condition does not give me time I'll just have to hurry to meet my goal!

  - You do not underst-

  -I don't NEED to understand anything - Caesar cut him short, while releasing his arm from the hand of three fingers of the doctor, apprehensively.

  He hated these lifeless aberrations, he would never understand why his allies, the so called Administration, were so fond of employing them. For him the world was of men and only them, in his view to the world there was no place for freaks and criminals. Although the modifications that had been given were very useful, it did not make him a freak devoid of humanity, he possessed free will he was himself and was not someone's servant, other than this that was intended with its bright eyes and lifeless.

  The doctor was a figure that both resembled the human form and was completely different. His body was all metal and polished, his head over it like a gas mask, his torso was a copy of the human torso and a screen were results of tests and surgeries were showed, but now only had a red cross, the arms was just straight and circular lines connected by slices to move and ended in small knobs of three triangular fingers triangularly distributed by the "hand". If any procedure these gauntlets would open to reveal small hands normal format made for handling more delicate items. Below the waist was only a metal rod supported by a wheel that allowed mobility to the doctor.

  Caesar looked for one last thing so he could be able, finally, leave his tent, and found beside his desk, his most precious in the world: his swords. These were the greatest symbol of his achievement. They were two short swords, modeled to look like what the Romans called glaidius but more rustic and less decorated than their idols, and are longer to fit his fighting style. He had forged them shortly after separating from his master to finally achieve his dream of unification. Although everyone in his army had a similar blade, the pair Caesar carried was unique. They have been enhanced by his allies in the Administration, in order to cut anything, including steel, they were transformed into vibro-swords, called so as to cut the blades vibrate at a high frequency and thus cut any material. At least that's how it was explained to him, possibly not having to explain the whole process of high technology for a "savage" as scientists in the Administration called anyone who was not a member of their organization. But Caesar did not care about such things all he knew was that they worked and gave him an advantage over the other tribes that faced on their journey. Such as the Mongols and Beduins of the Moving Sea that mounted metal steeds and were insurmountable with their surprise attacks or the Empire Ash-Tekk to the south with it's people and strange customs that have long threatened his borders by challenging the Legion several times at the Dam, but they would not last much longer time, they would succumb to his wrath as well as the other ninety were. Ninety tribes who now were called Legion. Caesar sheathed their swords and went out and again the doctor intervened.

  -Before you leave. my Masters have sent you a message- revealed the robot

  -What would it be? - Asked Caesar

  -Our Soldiers out of your border were not able to find that who wee seek and my Masters insist that you assist them in their pursuit within your territory.

  Caesar pondered a bit about this news and said:

  -They shall receive something much better! -he said- I shall send my best men to her pursuit and put all my cities on alert, I shall put a reward for those who want to catch a glimpse and tell my officers- and continued- And tell them that I give my word that I will find who you are looking for and I will bring it you myself.

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  -I will send your message ime ...- began to answer the doctor.

  But before he could finish the sentence, Caesar hastily withdrew from the room, he did not want to be in that room any longer with that inhuman thing, and entered the throne room. It was a checkerboard hall that ended in a corridor where was the exit to the camp of the Legion, the throne was made of metal and decorated with skins and shields of defeated rival tribes, it was covered by a red cloak, his main color. The room had the walls decorated with trophies of all campaigns that Caesar and his Legion had participated and won, since the flags of gangs and tribes that did the population of its current capital he had earned with the help of his now Elite Generals , called Hawks: ruthless warriors who used ancient martial arts that originated from beyond Sea. On another wall were his biggest trophies representing his greatest triumph and his greatest shame: the weapons of the mountain Tribes the Confederation of the Moon Blades, who were led by his master, they actually were the first to be able to face his Legion head-on, were fearless and overwhelming warriors who for two years have made Caesar and his legionaries for the first time since he had begun his conquest of the tribes, stop, they used several weapons from spears to bows and arrows, but were their swords that stood out in the field, were slightly curved blades razor sharp and able to slice a man in half in a strike. Each was a master in combat, even unarmed were able to use very similar fighting arts to his Hawks. But in the end they also fell like all other tribes who came before and after, although it was a great loss for Caesar, they would have been valuable vassals in his quest to unify these lands that stretched to the horizon.

  Caesar began to go hand in battle trophies, with a mixture of nostalgia and regret:

  -Why Master? - He asked to the trophies in the wall- why do not you joined me, together we would have been unbeatable, we could have conquered the world.

  -All I wanted was, as I realize my dream, have you by my side, proud of his pupil who has achieved the impossível.- he thought, with tears in his eyes, as he always did when going through these trophies .

  Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a legionnaire that entered his tent, he was a about thirty year old man with brown hair with a white band along with several battle scars on his face, one of them had taken his eye, which had lost in defense of his Sovereign, he was dressed in a uniform variation of the legionaries, was more decorated and made other armor defeated warriors. Caesar immediately recognized Tiberius, commander of the Praetorian Guard and his most faithful friend.

  -My Emperor- Tiberius said kneeling in front of his liege- I heard screams in your tent and came as fast as I could, it's everything alright sir?

  Quickly Caesar remembered his statement to as robot doctor and realized he should have used a less exaggerated tone so that there was a mess, he did not want his men to know about his condition because for them he was more than a man, he was the living embodiment of Mars and therefore could never be subject to worldly evils like that which assailed.

  It's alright, old friend- said Caesar placing a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder- it was just a Skeever rat that invaded my tent but everything's under control.

  Skeever rats were mutations that rats suffered after The Disaster turning normal mice into bigger monsters than normal, most often were a plague that has no end and hardly exterminated.

  -I Beg your forgiveness for having left a filthy beast enter your chambers my Emperor- Tiberius said completely sorry to have missed the monster and embarrassed, for his sovereign was above the worldly problems and should never be tainted by the filth of these beasts.

  - I said everything is alright old friend- said Caesar claim his guardian- we all make mistakes from time to time, at the end there was nothing more and no one was injured, so please rise old friend.

  Sure - Tiberius said lifting-up again - I again, ask your forgiveness for losing control, I just worry too much about your safety for men see you as a living god, the earthly incarnation of Mars and you are above these beasts.

  - It's all forgiven- said Caesar ending the subject- let's go to the camp, the soldiers await us.

  So the two friends followed the tent hall to the exit, Tiberius opened the tent and Caesar took one last look of sadness to the throne room with war trophies and the rooms that minutes before announcing his fate, and left. The camp of the Legion was a monumental sight: many tents stretched in every direction finishing the wooden walls built by his privates, Pigeons as they were called to have pigeon feathers on the helmet as part of the initiation ritual. The other members of the Legion: The Mockingbirds cleaning their firearms that fired metal and fire projectiles, and the Birds of Preys with their motorized carriage that brought death to the enemies of the Legion. The other members of the Legion also did their part and contributed towards the war effort, the smiths repaired weapons and made repairs in carriages, slaves grew crops to feed the Legionaries as well as cleaning and other jobs that were not worthy of legionaries.

  Slavery is an important part of the Legion society, it fulfilled a role both economic and social, slaves were composed of people defeated by the Legion during the Unification Wars, wars where Caesar and his army fought and won ninety different tribes and created the largest army in this devastated land. The Unification Wars only ended with the defeat of the Confederation of the Moon Blades ten years ago, the survivors of the defeated tribes were assimilated, ie, devoid of old traditions and incorporated to the great Legion, their wives became slaves and were designated domestic and craft tasks and generate the next generation of the Legion, children are separated from their parents and their native culture and are taught to Caesar culture and World Conquest these little identify themselves as "Only a small part of the Legion" and will be they who will succeed the veterans when they retire in the new world order that aims to Caesar the world.

  Caesar was aware that this was not a perfect system, but it was a time to kill or die and there is no room for the weak in the world he would create, but that does not mean you have to be cruel, for then there will be no distinction between him and the warlike tribes loose by this wild land, so he created a system of laws that allowed slaves become citizens of his great empire only prove if loyal to their country, thus bringing not only creating a less barbarous system as well as making slaves strove with the reward of citizenship and respect on the horizon.

  Tiberius made a sign with his hand, and quickly the Praetorian Guard gathered around Caesar, thirty of the best fighters that the Legion could offer, and all willing to die for their emperor.

  -The Praetorian Guard is ready my Emperor -said Tiberius- what do you want to do today?

  -Gather the Hawks -the Emperor said- I have an issue of paramount importance to discuss with them.

  -It shall be done my master - declared commander and pointed to a nearby Pigeon

  -you! - chose Tiberius - what is your name Pigeon?

  -Caius My lord - replied the soldier- What are my orders sir?

  -Go Get the Hawks for the Emperor!

  Caius trembled at the name of the elite generals of the Legion because he, like all the other soldiers had heard the dreaded Hawks: ruthless warriors fought exotic ways and that it was said can not be killed by any man. The Legion had been lucky because Caesar had won these seven warriors with his divine skills first, depriving the Legion of more enemies and gaining allies, even if psychotic ones.

  -N ... now? - trembled Caius

  Yes, now! - ordered Tiberius- Your Emperor commands it.

  Yes sir it shall be done!

  And Caius the pigeon went to look for the Relentless Generals, as an order of the Emperor was undeniable and should be fulfilled even if it was for Caius to fall on his head in the Underworld with the dead. Tiberius watched the young legionnaire run behind invoked by Caesar.

  -Poor boy- thought Tiberius- Sending him after those bloodthirsty psychopaths.

  Tiberius, as well as the Praetorians did not like the Hawks, they thought of them only as seven madmen who only want to kill everyone in front of them, their loyalty to Caesar was only because he had to defeat them first, they followed him only because he was the strongest and that was the only rule that those savages followed: Strength. Since the creation of the two outfits they always competed for those serving better the Emperor, the Praetorians have more contact for being the official bodyguards of Caesar but the Hawks are sent by him in missions that need to be successful.

  -Is something the matter old friend?- Asked the Emperor to his commander.

  -No, My emperor - Tiberius replied, his thoughts interrupted by the calm aura of his leader.

  -Then come with me- said Caesar- I want you to listen as well.

  Yes my lord, I feel extremely honored.

  Come on, they should not tarry said Caesar reentering the tent with his commander behind.

  And time was not something Caesar had any way. For Caesar first of his lineage, future Emperor of the World and the New World Order was dying.