"I once served as a soldier of the great thirteenth legion under General Gaius Julius Caesar. Kill me now or tell me where I am!" the man had said.

"Oh, fuck," Max groaned, suddenly, clearly aware of what had happened. There was indeed a reason Maximus was to be there at that moment in time and space and that reason was not what he had hoped or suspected. And what was expected of him? What were the gods asking of him? To take care of this overgrown child, lost beyond words and facing sure annihilation should he attempt survival in the twenty-first century alone?

It appeared so. Titus Pullo was not as stupid as he looked. He was reacting to the grave expression on his captor's face and terror had drifted across those confident blue eyes. "What is this place?" his voice was a choke and Maximus released his pressure on the man's throat.

"It is a place in which you, nor I, belong. But it is a place we are destined to be. I can help you, Pullo, but you must trust me."

Pullo rolled his eyes, taking in the horrible dimness and ominous sensations of the Coliseum bowels. "I think…I would rather you kill me."

Maximus quietly chuckled and sat with a thump beside the confused man. "I do understand your reasoning, my friend." The sound of voices drifted toward them, and even though they were in a part of the structure where no guided tours are brought, Max felt uncomfortable staying there much longer. "But, if you do wish to survive, you must trust me. Nothing will seem as it should be and you will be baffled." Max rose to his feet and reached a hand down. "You must trust me."

He led his companion along the corridors. "Stay with me, Pullo. Eyes ahead, pretend as though you are acclimated, man. And say nothing."

Pullo did as he was told, striding at Max's shoulder until they came out into the sunshine where he stopped and gazed up, blinking at the crumbling structure. To his credit, he asked nothing, resumed his pace and followed. Out on the street, Pullo stopped abruptly once again.

Max noted what had caught the man's attention and grasped his elbow. "Come."

"But Christ! Look at her. I can almost see her - "

Max grinned and tugged. "Come." It was a lovely young woman wearing a pair of very short shorts and he had to agree, one could almost see her…

Finally in the rental, Max instructed Pullo to clip his seatbelt and began to drive. An occasional gasp escaped his passenger, but nothing was said for several miles. Maximus had a plan. He was traveling north, out of the city and into the Italian hills.

Pullo slowly relaxed then turned as far as the restraint would allow, watching his new comrade's face. "Who are you?" His voice was soft, nearly concerned and Maximus rubbed his eyes.

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius."

Several more miles slid passed and finally Pullo spoke again. "You were a soldier?"

"I was a soldier. I was a General. I was many things."

"Who did you serve, Maximus?"

"Before we go further, Pullo. You must call me Max. It is the name I am known by in this time and place."

"Yes, General. I will call you Max." Pullo loved the tiny deceptions of life and grinned. The man controlling the strange conveyance could very well prove to be more than trustworthy. He could be a true friend. But he needed to know more. "Tell me who you served."

With a sigh, Max slowed and pulled the rental to the side of the quiet road. He closed his eyes and began. "I served many, many years after your death, Pullo. I served a remarkable man by the name of Marcus Aurelius." And for the first time since arriving in the strange future world, Maximus Decimus Meridius told his life from his own memories, speaking those words to the only man who would understand.

***

Over the next four weeks, Pullo stayed in a comfortable villa with Maximus. The rustic old house sat back from a dirt road deep in the outskirts of Tuscany, a place Max had always found restful and often went for peace and solitude. He had rented the place and set it up for a focused, thorough exposure of the world to his guest.

The first requirement was to teach Titus Pullo to speak English. A soldier of Rome, Pullo was even more adept than most at learning and deciphering languages, and with the added benefit of the satellite television system Max had installed soon after they'd arrived, he was finding great ease and enjoyment in conversing in the new tongue.

Pullo adjusted quickly with most elements of his new environment, but was often edgy. Max answered his questions honestly and with the straightforward responses of a General.

"When can I return?" Pullo had asked.

"I am unsure that you can."

"Where will I live?" Pullo sighed.

"I own a vineyard in California, you can live with me until you are able to decide."

"California?"

"It is across the sea, Pullo. In a country called America."

"What will I do? How will I earn my way?"

Maximus groaned frustration. "All will be determined as you acclimate, brother. It takes time, my friend. Patience."

Already Max was deciding what portion of his personal properties and money should be assigned to his new relative, for he was clearly aware that without the Temple funds, it would have been nearly impossible to find his way. Max had invested well and had earned much working with Thorn & O'Leary. His vineyard was fairly profitable, and with his ongoing attention, it should flourish.

But the questions seemed unending. Max had walked out onto the balcony to view the lovely Tuscan sunset over misty hills and valleys. He heard Pullo join him but did not turn.

"When will we leave for California?"

Max, intending to call a halt to the inquiries for the evening, instead blinked, went inside and tossed a pair of sweat pants to his houseguest. "Cover yourself," he grunted.

"Why?" Pullo shoved his leg into the soft fabric and grinned up at Max.

"Pullo, people do not walk around like that." Max pointed to the television. "How many have you seen naked?"

"Plenty," Pullo lifted the remote and flipped from porn channel to porn channel.

Shaking his head, Max snatched the remote from his laughing friend. "Sit, soldier. We have much to discuss."

"Max, I want a woman," it was a hopeful whine.

Maximus relaxed, smiled and waved for Pullo to sit. It was a disappointed thump and Max cleared his throat then chuckled.

"It has been a month. I want a woman. You must want a woman too, General!"

"Life is very different here, Pullo. Much has changed and women are not as you know them to be."

Pullo blinked. "You're fucking kidding! They still have cunnies, right?"

"Yes, yes, but you will find the woman of this time are very much like men."

"With cunnies, right?"

"Yes, Pullo, like men with cunnies. But… what I mean is that these women are educated, they are intelligent and empowered, Pullo. They have money and determine their own fate. And…my friend…they are miraculous to love."

"So we can go and get a few women?"

***

"When will we go to California?" Pullo dug his fork into fluffy eggs and stood to refill his coffee cup.

"You are so unhappy here?" Max looked up from the newspaper as Pullo shrugged and filled his mouth again. "Are you so sure you are ready to move on?"

"General, that is for you to decide. I was just wondering."

"We will not go to California first. We will go to Vermont."

"Vermont is also in America?"

Max nodded and sipped coffee. "There you will have your real test, my friend."

"Why?" Pullo held a loaded fork in mid air.

"My family is in Vermont."

"Ahh, General. Tell me of your family? Wife? Children?"

"No, this family is mine, much as you are my family."

"There are more of us?"

Maximus chuckled. How to answer that? There was more of Max, but Pullo was one of a kind. What should he tell him of his unique family; the people who love and protect him as he does them? There was a week left to the villa rental, and a very long transatlantic flight. The correct words would come to him.