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  • #31
    Okay, time to come clean lol. I've now radically altered the plot of this one, so you cannot expect anything lol, all I promise is that it will be a spectacular ending to DG lol.

    ************************************

    Spartacus stared at the image, his mind racing.

    How could Alexander be alive?! Especially now, this photo shows him at the same age that he died!

    He hunched over the table, and buried his head in his hands.

    An imposter, it has to be, he decided.

    He looked for scars and other marks on Alexander.

    They were all there.

    Either this person knew Alexander very well, or it was Alexander.

    And that thought terrified Spartacus. For one, how did he manage to stay young? And secondly, if that is him, what chance do I have of stopping him this time?

    *******************************

    Alexander grinned at Will.

    "I suppose you want to know how I'm still alive?"

    "Yeah, of course." Will nodded, slouched in the chair opposite. He respected Alexander, but had no use of him other than a way to get to Nicholas, and so didn't bother to show it.

    "Well Spartacus made the mistake of letting those on the plane with me live. He always was a weak person - only ever killing those who had to die - never killing people without reason. Sometimes you have to kill without reason to neutralise enemies before they can become a threat.

    "But he has a conscience, and it makes him weak. One person on the plane with me was particularly important. I'd like you to meet my son, Alexander Jnr."

    A man the same age as Alexander now looked entered the room.

    He looked like Alexander, but his hair was lighter, and his eyes were green. But the similarity was startling.

    "He was born just before I was removed from power for the first time. When I went into hiding, I took him with me, for his mother was not of sane mind." Alexander explained.

    More like you beat her up so much she killed herself,, Will thought grimly. He had no illusions about how evil Alexander was, but he respected the man's fighting skills and courage. And his thirst for revenge, which was as strong as Will's.

    "It was my son and one loyal commander who used my DNA to create a clone of me, then forced a doctor to use a revolutionary new technique to transplant my brain from my old body, which was kept in deep-freeze by the Hoplites.

    "Oh, and I'd like you to meet that one loyal commander, although you have already met before." Alexander nodded at the door.

    "Will, meet Colonel Josh Daniels."

    ********************************

    lol bet you didn't expect that

    More to come tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed this little snippet lol, I may actually post more tonight!

    Feedback really appreciated, it encourages me to write, and thanks for reading.

    Chris AKA Nemesis
    Quote:"He who has not learned to obey cannot be a great leader."

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    • #33
      How come the recent installments are too short, Nemesis? Don't starve your readers here.
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      • #34
        Justin watched as Spartacus jumped into a Joint Strike Fighter that would take him to the Avengers.

        He had been left in charge of the city, while Nicholas recovered, but for now he had other things on his mind.

        Like the message he had received just an hour ago.

        "Your son is alive, our doctors saved him. He will be our bargaining chip in securing our safe passage out of this godforsaken city. Meet us alone in City Square if you wish to see your son again."

        City Square was very close to the rebel district, and nothing like the huge Victory Square that lay outside the Palace.

        He knew he had to go, but he knew he couldn't offer them the peace they wanted. It was a hopeless gamble by a desperate father.

        But he went.

        ****************************

        "Nick, I've managed to get to a comms link for two seconds! Listen to me, they're using me to get my father down here to kill him! You must come and save him!" Josh's image appeared on the communications screen infront of Nicholas as soon as it was received.

        "Let's go, now!" Nicholas ordered.

        ***********************************

        Sorry for this short piece lol, but REALLY busy!

        Chris AKA Nemesis
        Quote:"He who has not learned to obey cannot be a great leader."

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        • #35
          Argh! You are killing us by these shorts! More, please.
          Last edited by vovan; February 7, 2003, 21:59.
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          • #36
            Whose a Wilfred Owen fan then?
            Any views I may express here are personal and certainly do not in any way reflect the views of my employer. Tis the rising of the moon..

            Look, I just don't anymore, okay?

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            • #37
              Im a Wilfred Owen fan come on Chris give us the goods, we love it
              A proud member of the "Apolyton Story Writers Guild".There are many great stories at the Civ 3 stories forum, do yourself a favour and visit the forum. Lose yourself in one of many epic tales and be inspired to write yourself, as I was.

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              • #38
                City Square was the only one in the city where a statue of Alexander still stood - it was built as a memorial to those that died in the invasion of Russia right after Phillip's death, and Spartacus would not rip down a memorial.

                Justin entered it slowly, watching for an ambush. He knew that it was most likely a trap, and now knowing that Alexander was possibly still alive made him cautious.

                "Dad!" Josh called from the statue.

                The voice stirred the memories deep inside Justin, making the adrenaline start rushing and the anger start building as he prepared to do anything to save his son.

                He remembered rushing from first battle of the Civil War, when Spartacus for the first time had supposedly killed Alexander, to the hospital, just in time to see Josh born.

                He remembered desperately trying to find time to be with Josh while he was growing up, as the chaos following the first round of the Civil War engulfed Greece and Justin was one of the few who could help stop it.

                Then there were those years of peace after, the lull between the wars, and he had been able to spend more time with Josh, enough that his son had decided to follow him into the Hoplites.

                Then there was the German war, just after Josh graduated from the Hoplite Military Academy. Nicholas being kidnapped by the Germans triggered that war, and Justin had missed his son’s graduation as he was leading a rescue mission.

                He had always regretted missing that, and had made sure to be present for the day that Josh took his oath of allegiance and was sworn into the Hoplites, as well as supporting his son throughout the arduous training that even after the Academy the Hoplites demanded. A year later, and Nicholas, now King, had promoted Josh to command the Hoplites.

                Then came Alexander’s second coming. Discovering that the Hoplites had never been fully under his control shook Josh’s confidence, and he had never really recovered from that, always seeking his father’s agreement to all his plans, and basically returning to being a soldier that followed orders rather than give them. In the decades that had followed the Civil Wars, Justin had watched his son grow once more, but he had never recovered from the betrayal. And now in his forties, Josh seemed set to follow orders for the rest of his life, or at least until his father died. Justin was one of the few people who thought that his death would actually bring Josh out of his shell a bit more - make him less cautious with no father watching over him.

                And now that man stood helpless in the Square, his hands cuffed behind his back, around the leg of the statue.

                For one second, he looked just like the innocent little boy who had so desperately seeked approval from his father, the big strong soldier, and told him “I want to be a Hoplite just like you daddy.”

                The rage was building, but Justin remained calm as he walked closer towards his son, constantly looking out for threats.

                Little did he know his son was the biggest threat.

                ******************

                Josh’s arms came from behind the statue’s leg, and it soon became apparent to Justin that his son wasn’t cuffed.

                And that his son had a pistol.

                The pistol aimed at Justin, and he stopped, frozen with shock and denial.

                Surely his son couldn’t be in league with Alexander!

                “Son?” he said quietly.

                “Sorry, but you are no father of mine.” Josh growled.

                Justin looked startled and instinctively reached for his own pistol.

                “Don’t, or I’ll be forced to shoot.” Josh snapped.

                “Why?” was the only word Justin could say.

                “Because I had always been looking for your approval when I was growing up, and when you were around you were always too busy with your work to show me that you were proud of me! Because you left mother to cry while you went off on dangerous missions, never once thinking about her! Because work always came first, and never your family! Because you care more about your King and his family than you do about your own! Because you never told me that the Hoplites weren’t completely loyal to me, and you let me think you were dead, proving your job came before me! Because ever since you returned from the dead, I’ve been in your shadow, never able to make a decision without it being second guessed by you and Spartacus! And because Alexander actually treated me with respect, asked for my opinion on things and proved that he demands less of his people that your great leader Spartacus does!” The outburst was straight from the heart, and it came out in a jumble.

                “When did you turn against the true ruler?” Justin demanded, as grief, guilt and despair threatened to overwhelm him.

                “When Alexander was on his way to the plane to go to Macedonia, after the battle at Thunder Rift, he contacted me saying that he had seen my exploits, and how he would like a person like me on his side. We met before he boarded the plane, and I decided that he was the best leader, and that once he became King again after leading the Macedonians into Greece, I would be well rewarded if I helped him. Well, as we both know, he never made it. I helped his son create a DNA clone afterwards, and then a scientist transferred Alexander’s frozen brain into his new body.”

                “But how?! He was shot in the head for God’s sake!”

                “Yes, we have found that the bullet entered and left through only a small portion of the brain, despite it being enough to kill him. The doctor made repairs enough that the brain could keep Alexander alive and would function normally, but the part that was destroyed was the part of emotions and pain. Basically, like you he has no emotions, but unlike you he feels no pain.” Josh said these last words with an evil smile.

                “Why are you telling me this? If you’re going to shoot me, why don’t you just do it?”

                “Because you are bait. Nicholas is following you, and we want to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. For once you two are gone, Spartacus will be forced to rely on me, and that will be a fatal mistake…” Josh grinned as he saw that his father didn’t see the true value of his and Alexander’s great plan straight away.

                There was a commotion at the same entrance that Justin had used, and the rebuilt Hoplite command company entered with Nicholas at its head.

                **************************

                “It’s Josh! He’s holding Justin hostage!” One Hoplite shouted.

                “He’s a traitor…” Nicholas realised.

                Before he knew what was happening, the Hoplites were charging forwards, filled with rage and hatred.

                Justin dived to his left, but his son had wait for his father to make an obvious move in one direction before firing, and a bullet hit Justin straight in the chest.

                As the Hoplites charged forwards, a familiar voice echoed from the rooftops around.

                ”Fire at will!” Alexander roared.

                The snipers cut down the Hoplites a long time before they reached the statue, and only one managed to shoot at Josh. He caught Josh in his arm, and the traitor returned fire, ruthlessly killing the soldier.

                Nicholas began to back out of the Square, his pistol drawn.

                But then he felt the pistol in his back.

                “Drop your pistol and walk towards the statue.” Will ordered.

                Nicholas knew he was doomed already, and swept one leg backwards, knocking Will off his feet. The King raced forwards, towards Josh, swerving, ducking and diving to avoid the sniper’s bullets.

                Josh was charging too, but Nicholas went straight past him towards the statue, only briefly taking a shot at the traitor as he passed.

                The shot missed, but it threw Josh’s aim off, and his shot was wild.

                Nicholas dived behind the statue, and began to consider his plan.

                **************

                Josh was edging closer towards the statue. He motioned for Will to go one way, while he went the other.

                They closed around it, and Nicholas whispered a quick prayer before launching himself towards Will.

                The ex-Hoplite was knocked off his feet by the King, and Nicholas towered over him, ready to deliver the killing shot.

                Josh had got close to the statue again, and didn’t seem to be interfering for some reason.

                Nicholas fired, but as he did Will kicked at him, making him lose his balance. The shot hit near Will’s head, before the ex-Hoplite rolled away and picked up his gun once more.

                He heard shouts from one side of the Square, as Spartacus returned victorious from the battlefield outside Athens, with the Avengers.

                But they were too late. Will was intent on avenging his family, and while he would now not be able to string Nicholas up on the statue like he had planned, he would still kill the King.

                Nicholas struggled to get up, and Will delivered one savage kick to his stomach, sending the King back down onto the ground.

                One shot, and no remorse.

                Will pulled the trigger without a second thought, and the bullet splattered Nicholas’s brains across the Square’s cobbles.

                Spartacus screamed in rage, and charged towards Will, the Avengers in tow.

                Will smiled, and put the pistol in his mouth.

                And blew out his own brains.

                Spartacus stopped, shocked at the suicide, before rushing towards Nicholas.

                He was dead, that was certain, but just below the handcuffed Josh, was Justin, who was still alive, barely.

                Spartacus saw the look of terror on Josh’s face as he held Justin in his arms, and understood why the younger man would be so scared, seeing his father dying infront of him and being unable to do anything about it.

                “Josh.” Was Justin’s last word.

                *************************

                Hope you enjoyed this bit, more to come tomorrow!

                Comments appreciated.

                Thanks for reading,

                Chris AKA Nemesis
                Quote:"He who has not learned to obey cannot be a great leader."

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                • #39
                  i like it. Very nice uk.
                  Read Blessed be the Peacemakers | Read Political Freedom | Read Pax Germania: A Story of Redemption | Read Unrelated Matters | Read Stains of Blood and Ash | Read Ripper: A Glimpse into the Life of Gen. Jack Sterling | Read Deutschland Erwachte! | Read The Best Friend | Read A Mothers Day Poem | Read Deliver us From Evil | Read The Promised Land

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                  • #40
                    Im off to get some eggs to have with my fried brain, definitely more twists than a Curly Wurly.
                    A proud member of the "Apolyton Story Writers Guild".There are many great stories at the Civ 3 stories forum, do yourself a favour and visit the forum. Lose yourself in one of many epic tales and be inspired to write yourself, as I was.

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                    • #41
                      The last chapter was nce and long too.
                      Read Blessed be the Peacemakers | Read Political Freedom | Read Pax Germania: A Story of Redemption | Read Unrelated Matters | Read Stains of Blood and Ash | Read Ripper: A Glimpse into the Life of Gen. Jack Sterling | Read Deutschland Erwachte! | Read The Best Friend | Read A Mothers Day Poem | Read Deliver us From Evil | Read The Promised Land

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                      • #42
                        Wow .... just wow ....
                        I don't conquer -
                        I obliterate

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                        • #43
                          The riots and rebellions were crushed within a week, a furious Spartacus leading loyal troops on manhunts against the rebels, and executing any who surrendered.

                          They had had their chance to surrender before, now it was too late, and no mercy had been given, just like they had given no mercy to the innocent people they had killed.

                          Now came the funerals.

                          Spartacus rode on horseback behind his son's coffin, flanked by Josh and other Hoplites, also riding.

                          The flag of the Greek Empire was draped over Nicholas as his coffin left the Parthenon on Acropolis hill, the sacred hill of Athens, where his body had led in state for the past week where over a million people had come to see it, to pay their respects to the King who had ruled under the shadow of Spartacus's famous reputation, but had proven himself a true Greek Royal when it came to battle.

                          The gun carriage carried Nicholas down the slopes slowly, as the men on horseback behind slowly followed.

                          Crowds even lined the route here, many women sobbing, especially since Nicholas had died so young, before his father and in such tragic circumstances.

                          There were some Spartacus had heard who expected Nicholas to rise from the dead, as so many of Greece's rulers had. They had seen so many leaders die that some no longer believed that Nicholas could die - he had to come back to life as his father and Alexander had done so many times before.

                          But Nicholas wasn't coming back, the bullet had destroyed most of his brain, so that even if any Greek scientists discovered brain transplants, Nicholas wouldn't be a possible candidate.

                          As they reached the bottom of Acropolis hill, soldiers from every Greek unit and ship joined the procession, marching. The procession began to turn towards City Square. Spartacus had ordered the detour to make a point.

                          They neared the Square where Nicholas had died, and the gunmen which must have been there to cut down the Hoplites so ruthlessly had disappeared so quickly from.

                          Spartacus nodded, and the cloth that was over the statue of Alexander was pulled down.

                          It was no longer of Alexander. Spartacus objected to destroying memorials, but he had no objections to changing them. The statue was now of Nicholas.

                          The crowd gasped and cheered, then were quickly hushed as the gun carriage drew near the statue.

                          As it passed, five Avengers who stood infront of the new statue presented their guns, aimed skywards and fired three times.

                          The rest of the journey went as a blur for Spartacus, who was deep in thought. In his mind though it registered that every street they went through was packed full of people watching and paying their respects.

                          Then they entered Victory Square. Here the carriage stopped, and the Avengers lifted Nicholas from it.

                          They saluted the monument as they passed it, then carried him in the front gates of Athens Palace.

                          Spartacus rode in behind them, towards the cemetary, where they would have a small private funeral.

                          And his son would be buried one plot away from Phillip. For the plot in between was reserved for the present King.

                          Spartacus.

                          He choked back tears as he realised that in the true line of succession, he should already be in that second plot, his son burying him, then living for many more decades before being buried next to him.

                          Spartacus held no illusions. He knew who was responsible in the ultimate scheme of things.

                          Alexander, who seemed to have disappeared since the riots had been put down.

                          But Spartacus would hunt him down, and this time that murdering son of a b*tch was really going to pay.

                          **************************************

                          More to come soon!

                          Comments appreciated, and thanks for reading!

                          Chris AKA Nemesis
                          Quote:"He who has not learned to obey cannot be a great leader."

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                          • #44
                            I only had a chance to read the latest installments now. The last two. At last, no short stuff - nice juici full-grown chapters.

                            Great stuff this is. The plot has got to be one of the most engaging in any story so far. Like Chrisius here said, the story is ... twisted. In a good way.
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                            • #45
                              Definitely great stuff. Very suspenseful and engaging.

                              Awaiting the conclusion.

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