Episode 24: FIRST LADY

The trip home seemed like forever with the train of cargo containers Malcolm Brand in his colossal form holding up their pace. While each step he took was lengthy it was almost a cluster fuck over how many containers got in the way of one another on their chains. Riding atop them Jack Ramse and their new ally an immortal Roman soldier conversed explaining histories to one another the best they could. Gaicazar being from the past there was much confusion. It was about to get weightier.

“That’s where we live.” Jack pointed at the monstrous starship still looming large in the distance. The closer they got to the Ganthorian craft their new recruit Roman Centurion Antonaeus Gaicazar marveled at the massive vessel.

Antonaeus nodded as the spectral Madigan Ridge floated to his left smiling at him for revealing her potential. She hoped that careful concentration he had instilled within her would break her free of her ghostly attachment. She would never find it that simple.

“Were you born in Rome?” Maddy asked as Jack translated for her.

“My birthplace is Golgotha.”

“Where the crucifixion of Christ took place?” Maddy enquired!

“The son of God?” He leered at her. Jack assisting communication suddenly took interest. Never a godly man history nonetheless fascinated him. Especially the arts of war!

“Jesus. Yes.”

“Golgotha is where I was reborn. My true home Roma.”

“Reborn?” Jack jumped in.

“Indeed! I was there as the Son of God died. Pontius Pilate the governor of Judaea ordered my fellow legionnaires to taunt him. I did not approve. My betrayal led to nothing. The God Son still perished.”

“Your eye. What happened to it?”

“Standing below Christ he spoke his dying breath, his blood falling down upon me. The God Son’s tear wept upon my eye. I went blind but for moments. When I could see again, I saw things I was unprepared for. Demons everywhere. Fellow legionnaires were not who they claimed to be. The Son of God allowed me to bear witness to the evil of man.”

Jack questioned him more at Maddy’s request. “How exactly did your light make Madigan human again?”

“As I am allowed visions of evil, I am gifted the sight of innocence as well. Her spirit is pure. With purity there is hope. With hope there is renewal.”

Maddy considers his words. “Christ rose from the grave. Joseph of Arimathea anointed him and buried Jesus in a cave. The entrance closed by a large rock. Is that true?”

Gaicazar narrowed his eyes. “There is truth in the scriptures. Lies as well. Indeed, the God Son rose and took his place beside his father.” He then pointed toward the Ganthorian craft. “Rising to Heaven in a chariot most like the one before us.”

Jack was taken back by his statement. “Jesus went up in a spaceship?”

“I am unfamiliar with this spaceship you speak of.”

“That big Chariot is a spaceship. It came from the sky. The heavens. I don’t think it had anything to do with God though. Of course, I could be wrong.”

Antonaeus shrugged aside his confusion the closer they got. Standing atop the container in step he surveyed the surrounding crops with containers scattered about as if shelters. The cattle pen with a glow about them seemed like a halo.

“As if the Garden of Eden itself.”

“Not really.” Jack grumbled! “It’s home though.”

“I sense many things about your home.”

“Such as?”

“Evil resides here. Yet, I sense much good.”

Jack theorized the Roman meant Sabbath Black in her prison as the evil. He hoped nothing else would join the ranks of anything that could harm them. Obviously, he found Jack, Maddy, and Malcolm as good people. Safe to say they might have been forced to battle Gaicazar otherwise.

“Evil? We have a vampire in captivity. We don’t believe her to be evil. At least we don’t think so. She tried hard to resist her urges. She has yet to harm any of us.”

“If tainted she has succumbed to evil. Resistance is futile.” Antonaeus unsheathed his sword. “She must be dealt with.”

“Slow down there.” Jack prompted the massive Roman with hands before him. “I’ll ask you to give her the chance to speak first in her defense. Our friend Elle has the ability to change her back to a human. Like you did to Maddy.”

“My vision will reveal the truth. There lies my decision. Do not stand in my way.”

Jack huffed his cheeks not wanting to admit he could be right about her. They might have just brought home something as deadly as the vampires. For now, he hoped that he and the others could contain him should he become ruthless.

Madigan couldn’t help but admire the gruff looking Roman. His chiseled features succumbing to an unshaven black beard. Though immortal it was easy to tell the man had gone through hell and back. Hundreds of times. She had so many questions, but they could wait. For now, she pondered her ability to go from ghost to human and back. Lack of complete control was tedious.

Reaching the parameter of the Ganthorian ship they were met by Greta Winston and Sophia Ridge, wide-eyed at the large Centurion arriving. Greta shied away in favor of standing behind Sophia. Intimidation made her feel safer behind an indestructible woman.

Sizing up Sophia, Gaicazar stopped and squeezed the hilt of his sword just in case.

“Your maiden wears no clothing.” Antonaeus took notice! He understood Maddy’s issue of nudity being a ghost, but Sophia was perfectly firm.

“That can’t be helped. Clothing kind of burns away the second it touches her skin. Long story.”

“A demon then.” He moved closer towering over Sophia. Sophia looked up at him with a respectful gaze.

“No demon.” She smiled! “Just young and sexy.”

His left eye began to glow bathing her in its glare. Sophia immediately zeroed in on the cross upon his pupil and clenched her teeth.

“Should I go to confession?”

“What manner of creature are you?” He narrowed his gaze. “I see innocence, yet you shimmer as if possessed.”

“That must be my boys. They protect me.” She explained as Jack translated.

“Children?”

“Um! Not really! It’s hard to explain. I’m not certain why but they’re telling me to shake your hand.” Sophia extended her right palm, dancing in step while her left arm hid behind her back. Titties jiggled without trying.

Jack took a step closer as if to intervene. “Sophia? Don’t.”

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt him. I swear. Cross my heart hope to die. He can try stabbing me if he wants but his sword might get eaten.”

“You would sacrifice yourself merely to shake my hand.” The Roman pondered as Jack exchanged their words. Finally, Jack put his hand up and removed his collar. Facing Antonaeus he offered it up to him. Squinting the Roman claimed the collar with one hand and examined it. Jack in turn showing him how to wear it with his hands.

Cautiously Antonaeus donned the collar, the band stretching to accommodate his neck size. Immediately he heard the difference between languages. A glint of surprise encouraged him to straighten his posture.

“Shake my hand?” Sophia offered again.

Raising his sword he casually taps her palm with the blades dull surface. In doing so Sophia was caught off guard as her microscopic tenants start singing, their music heavenly. It made Sophia nearly cry. Her mind reeled as images filtered through her thoughts. Golden cities. Rainbows. Winged warriors that halted in flight as if examining Sophia in the distance.

“Oh, my God!” She shivered! “It’s beautiful.”

“God, indeed. You have been blessed.” Gaicazar removed the sword feeling safe in her presence. Even Jack had to be thankful. Ever since Sophia had her accident, he worried how much he could trust her pesky friends. This would settle his nerves.

Behind Sophia, Greta stood in a nervous awe, never realizing that in her rapid heartbeat her body had vanished. Only clothing could be seen. Gaicazar in reaction eyed her with interest and moved around Sophia. His scrutiny over Greta made the woman panic and nearly piss. Then, as Gaicazar lifted his blade she could see her reflection in it. Even though everyone else was blind to her features, including herself when looking directly at her hand.

“I can see myself.” She revealed as Jack stepped to her opposite side.

“Greta? You’re invisible.”

“No, I’m not. I can see my reflection. Look.” She lifted her arm noting her ungloved hand still missing, yet she and Jack could see her true beauty within the blade.

“She too is innocent.” The Roman lowered his weapon. “Fear me not.”

Relieved, Jack Ramse turned his attention to Malcolm’s load being dropped off and decreasing himself in size. Gaicazar realized the change in mass and his body runes becoming less revealing. Once achieving his normal height Gaicazar wandered over to Malcolm’s side. Everyone trailing him closely just in case.

“You bear a curse. Yet, I sense a nobility within you. This is beyond your control.”

“Am I possessed? I don’t feel possessed.” Mal hid his nudeness until Greta passes him her hat to cover his manhood.

“Reckon, I won’t be wearing that hat for a spell.” She sighed!

Antonaeus again raised his sword and gently touched Malcolm’s shoulder with the flat of the blade. Like Sophia, Malcolm embarked on a vision quest, seeing beings of light and darkness. Hulking figures that shared a throne amid a garden of golden apple trees. A tall woman rising from her seat walked toward Malcolm as if he was truly there. The woman albino with dark red hair could be seen once she stepped from her shade, both irises golden and chilling. The scene faded as she smiled.

“What the heck was that?” Mal flared his eyes as the sword lifted away.

“Ancients! From a realm beyond the one true God’s creation. I have confronted their ilk before. A time spent in lost Valhalla. I am uncertain of your curse. It would appear to be good and evil. A balance that you must forever keep under yoke. I offer reprieve until proven wrong.”

“Ooookay! I’ll do that.”

As Gaicazar turned his gaze toward the container holding Sabbath Black his sword began to glow white hot, forcing him to step away toward the steel confinement. The group went on edge suddenly. Three steps distant he halted at an unexpected distraction. The collar Jack passed to him created a hologram of James Ian Pryce, reporting in. The image forced the Roman to cross his sword through the boy’s intangible projection.

“Sorcery?”

“No. The collar you wear keeps us in contact with others. Some of our residents are inside the ... chariot.”

James reacted to seeing the Roman and jumped up and down! “HERCULES!”

Gaicazar tilted his head with a boggled expression. “Reveal yourself.”

The boy raised a finger, “Be right out.”, the hologram vanishing. Awaiting the boy Antonaeus continued his journey to the on-end cargo container. Palm touching the container he sensed the imprisoned beauty within. A tortured soul. One that had not abandoned her like it should have, being the living dead.

“This vampire is different. She too good and evil. Torn between two worlds. I must see her eye to eye to know the truth.”

“Hold on! If you drag her out into the sun, she dies.” Jack eased in to stop him from lifting the container, “If you must let’s do this our way. Our friend Elle has healing abilities. She touched the girl and turned her from vampire to human. She can do it again.”

In response Madigan drifted into their midst. “If she concentrates like you taught me, could she become normal on her own?”

“Nay. Your spirit’s purity offers you the gift I have shown you. She is tainted by evil. You were not.”

Gaicazar abandoned the container then stepped toward the area of Madigan’s grave, the group hovering about him learning as much as possible. As he kicked up dust he looked down at her plot, expelling a beam of intense light that overpowered even the sun’s rays. The soil turning transparent revealed Madigan’s body six feet below.

“I look peaceful.” Maddy floated beside him.

“Concentrate.” Antonaeus once again ordered her to follow his advice. Sealing her ghostly eyes she gradually recreated her human form, dropping under her new weight to the ground. Sophia was heard to say, “MOM!” loudly. Madigan ignoring her daughter gazed down within her grave to see her clothing left behind. But, no longer her body.