"MARCUS COLLA AND THE FIGHTING DEAD." [Preview available]

Episode summary:

"A condemned man escapes death in the arena and Mr. Tibbs is on the case because he should have died! Marcus Colla is now a Gladiator at Senator Agenn's Ludus [Gladiator Training School] and has caught the eye of Lady Livia Drusilla Agenn and this can have consequences for Humanity. Jericho is tasked with restoring the current time-line by any means possible and that involves a trip back to Ancient Rome!"

 

THIS EPISODE MAY CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS:

SMOKING - ALCOHOL USE - VIOLENCE [INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE & BDSM] - STRONG LANGUAGE - GRAPHIC HARD SEX REFERENCES INCLUDING PROSTITUTION AND DIVERSE SEXUAL PRACTISES - DRUG REFERENCES – STRONG ANTI-RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS AND OPINIONS - HUMAN TRAFFICKING – STRONG COMMENTS AND BEHAVIOUR THAT MAY OFFEND SOME PEOPLE BUT WERE CONSIDERED 'NORMAL' IN THE TIME PERIOD – MILD HORROR & SUPERNATURAL, PARANORMAL FEAR.

 

 Author’s notes about this episode:  

[1] This episode contains very strong language and sexual references, including a sexual assault.

[2] The original Title for this episode was: ‘ARENA.’

[3] A ‘Jericho Tibbs’ original story.

[4] Illustration is an original drawing by the author. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.

 

Episode details:

Concept date: 24th February 2017

First published: 7th September 2019

Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.

Location: BOOK SERIES 2 – EPISODE 9.

Revisions: 4 [last revised August 2019]

Version: Final.

Published Episode No. 021

Previous episode: “The phantom gunfighters of Red River cemetery.”

Next episode: “Mrs. Lucy Crawford leaves lifeboat No. 13.”

Age recommendation: 15+

Average reading time: Approx. 30 Minutes.

Angel-in-charge: Margret 

Team Assigned: Team 74

Human Time: 0069BC-0000AH 

Mission: 9 - 620034 - 2– 0069

Episode Preview:

 They dragged him across the rough floor of sand and brick, pulling the chains that encircled his arms; Marcus Colla staggered and almost fell. “Come on you fucker! You can’t keep the audience waiting.” The Guard laughed and kicked Marcus up the arse, whilst the other tugged upon the chains and pulled Marcus towards the rusted Iron Gate which had splashes of fresh wet blood and little pieces of human skin – torn from the dead bodies - as they were dragged past it from the Arena to the Spollarium.

The Legionnaire on the gate rose from his crude little stool and took hold of his javelin, spitting pieces of goat fat from his teeth; the guard knew he would regret eating that old goat, but that was all the cookhouse was dishing up today. He should have stuck to bread and onions; he picked his teeth with a dirty finger and eyed the condemned man with little interest until he saw the tattoo on his right shoulder.

“What! Another fucking son of a whore from the bloody 8^th. What did you do to get this; fuck your Tribunes daughter?” He smiled, showing gaped and yellowed teeth. The prisoner, who was being stripped of his chains, turned his head slowly and stared at the man, his piercing blue eyes bright with anger; but said nothing.

The fat guard pulled the chains from Marcus’s ankles leaving blooded red marks about each and shouted to the Legionnaire; “This fuck head was found with his Centurions wife!” The Gate guard laughed out loud and with some effort, pulled the gate half open saying to Marcus; “Hope she was worth the fuck you dim shit!” The fat guard took hold of Marcus by the shoulders and threw him through the gate; “See you in Hades; you piece of shit!”

Marcus staggered out into the sunshine and wiped sweat and blood from his eyes and face. The crowd was sparse and seemed uninterested in the latest entertainment offered. Marcus could see the floor of the little Arena was churned up with puddles of blood and several human limbs lay scattered around. An old man appeared from behind the gateway and threw a gladius onto the sand by his feet, shouting; ”May the God’s be with you!”

 Across the arena another metal door was pulled back and some of the crowd started cheering. Marcus scooped up the sword and nodded his thanks to the old man who disappeared into the darkness of the Spollarium.

 Senator Brutus Agenn shifted in his chair and accepted a cup of wine from the half-naked girl standing behind him. He sighed loudly; the afternoon games had not been a success so far and the small crowd was showing their displeasure by standing and lifting their bare backsides to him and the other dignities on the raised platform. The fat merchant Claudius almost giggled and raised his cup towards the crowd. “Ignorant dirty bastards who don’t appreciate what you give them Senator; it’s all free and still they disrespect you….and us of course.”  He sipped his wine and ran a hand over the thigh of the young slave boy who stood next to him. Max the ship owner nodded his agreement with that statement; “Maybe we should round up a few of them and see if they can do better.” Senator Brutus smiled at that but shook his head; “Not with the Senate elections just a month away, I still need some voters from the great unwashed to continue the illusion that they hold some kind of power in our democracy. Caesar says so and what he says is law.” He turned to his wife and almost smiled, lowering his voice; “You could always smile more my dear and support you husband.”

 Lady Livia Drusilla Agenn sat arms folded – bored and far too warm – and didn’t smile at her husband; “When I have something to smile about my dear; I will.” Theirs was not a happy marriage and it showed. But she leaned forward and stared at the young man who had just been thrown into the arena. “Is this the legionnaire that found his captain’s wife so agreeable?” She now smiled and accepted a cup of wine from her maid.

 The Senator nodded; “The magistrate, our good friend Claudius only condemned the damn fool because he owed a favour to the Centurion. Otherwise, he [Marcus] would have received a good whipping and that would have been end to the matter. It’s pity because he was a good soldier in many other ways apparently.”

 Lady Livia smiled; the condemned man was young and fit with a good body. Such a waste; especially since the story circulating said that the Centurions wife had been well pleased with his sexual efforts and his sheer stamina. She sighed and sipped her wine. Drusilla, the wine merchant’s wife leaned across and whispered; “I understand he’s hung like a donkey and knows how to use it.” Lady Livia sighed again; “Then it’s a waste of a man and a good cock.” Drusilla laughed and tapped Livia’s arm; “There are always plenty of men with big cocks, it’s just finding one that actually knows how to use it.” The two ladies laughed together and that cheered the Senator up a little. His attention was drawn back to the arena where the apparently unequal contest was about to start.

 Drusilla whispered into Livia’s ear; “Don’t forget my little party tomorrow; I have selected some very big men for our entertainment and Lupus has promised some very interesting cabaret. I understand that he has trained monkeys that fuck to his command. Each other, girls and boys even dogs!” Livia chuckled and patted her friend’s hand. Her husband was attending a council meeting about the bloody drains tomorrow night in Panchu [a small town near the city] and so the evening was hers. She was certainly going to enjoy it. She also turned back to the arena as sparse applause now rippled around the crowd.

End of Preview.

"MARCUS COLLA AND THE FIGHTING DEAD" CONTINUES IN 'TEMPORAL DETECTIVES' BOOK SERIES 2 [EPISODE 9.]

There is an "ALEXANDRA" extended adult version available:

"ALEXANDRA AND THE GLADIATORS." 

Remember! The "ALEXANDRA" series is rated 18+ Adults ONLY.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.” 

CAUTION:

“SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. Some are RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 15+ years only.”

THE AUTHOR.

Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.