The Last Roman of Mars

The red dust of Mars swirled around the solitary figure of Marcus, the last Roman of Mars. His armor, a relic from a bygone era, clung to his frame like a second skin, now covered in the fine, iron-rich soil that blanketed the Martian landscape. The sun, a distant orange glow, hung in the sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the barren plains. Marcus had been here for months, since the ship that brought him to this new world had crash-landed, and its crew had abandoned him, leaving him to fend for himself in the unforgiving Martian wilderness.

Marcus had always been a soldier, a Roman of the old world, trained in the art of war and survival. Now, he found himself in a new land, where the air was thin and the water scarce. He had learned to hunt the Martian creatures, to build shelter from the relentless wind, and to cultivate the red dust to grow the meager crops that kept him alive. But life on Mars was not just about survival; it was about the echoes of a past that no longer existed.

One evening, as he sat by the campfire, his thoughts drifted to his homeland, to the grandeur of Rome and the tales of valor that had shaped his life. It was then that he heard the sound, a distant rustle in the underbrush, followed by the crunch of something stepping over the loose Martian soil. Marcus’s hand instinctively reached for the sword at his side, his mind racing with memories of battle.

As the figure emerged from the shadows, Marcus’s heart sank. It was a Martian, one of the primitives that the Romans had encountered during their conquest of the Red Planet. The Martian’s skin was dark and leathery, and his eyes, wide with curiosity and fear, seemed to hold the secrets of the ancient world.

“Who are you?” Marcus demanded, his voice steady but laced with warning.

The Martian stepped forward, his eyes flicking to the sword at Marcus’s side. “I am Thalos,” he said, his voice a deep rumble. “I have been watching you. I see that you are a Roman.”

Marcus nodded, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. “And what does that matter to you, Martian?”

Thalos stepped closer, his eyes never leaving Marcus. “I am not like the others. I do not want to fight. I want to learn from you. To understand your ways.”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed. He had heard of Martians who sought knowledge, but he was also wary of betrayal. “Why should I trust you?”

Thalos held up his hands, a gesture of peace. “I do not want to harm you. I want to know the secrets of your people. Perhaps we can help each other.”

Marcus hesitated, his mind racing with the possibilities. What if Thalos was telling the truth? What if the Martian could offer him something valuable?

“I will teach you what I know,” Marcus said finally, his voice a mix of resignation and curiosity. “But you must promise to protect me from the others.”

Thalos nodded, a solemn look on his face. “I will keep my word, Marcus. I will protect you.”

And so, a strange alliance was formed between a last Roman of Mars and a Martian who sought to understand the world he lived in. They worked together, teaching each other the skills they needed to survive in this new world. Marcus taught Thalos the art of war and the strategies of the Romans, while Thalos showed Marcus the ways of the Martians, their language, and their customs.

But as time passed, Marcus began to suspect that Thalos was hiding something. The Martian seemed to know too much about the Romans, about their weaknesses and their strengths. And one night, as they sat by the campfire, Marcus confronted him.

“You know more than you should,” Marcus said, his voice tinged with suspicion. “What do you want from me?”

Thalos looked into Marcus’s eyes, a look of determination in his own. “I want to build a new world, one where the Martians and the Romans can live in peace. But I cannot do it alone. I need your help.”

Marcus sighed, his mind reeling with the weight of the Martian’s words. He knew that he had a choice to make: to continue living as a solitary figure in this new world, or to take a chance on a Martian who might just have the power to change everything.

“Alright,” Marcus said, his voice steady. “I will help you. But you must promise me one thing.”

Thalos nodded. “What is that?”

“That you will protect me and the knowledge of my people, even if it means fighting against your own kind.”

Thalos smiled, a rare expression on his face. “I will keep my promise, Marcus. I will keep my promise.”

And so, the last Roman of Mars and the Martian who sought to understand the world he lived in embarked on a journey that would change both their lives forever. They would face betrayal, they would face the harsh realities of Martian life, but they would also find a way to build a new world, one that would honor the past and embrace the future.