The Emperor stumbled, his weak left foot giving way, but he concealed it by bending to lift my hat from where it lay, and pulling from within it the dripping gray Familiaris armband, which I carried always but so rarely wore. “I’m going to have them sew this to your sleeve. The world knows about you now, you need the visible protection of my law or the next angry mob may do worse than knock you down.”

“Yes, Caesar.” I took it from him, wringing it out in my hands.

“It’s too dangerous for you to walk the streets alone. Ever. Ever again. If I catch you out unguarded one more time, or even trying to get out, I’ll lock you in a cell in Alexandria, and the only time you’ll ever leave again is if I lend you out to someone who has their own cell ready for you. And I’ll have you hobbled. Surgically. I mean it, no second chance.”

“Yes, Caesar. I understand.” A deep breath. “What now, Caesar? You have caught me, you must have more need for me than this.”

“We need you at the Capitolium. The Censor has called an emergency session of the Senate to hear Jehovah present their findings on O.S., but we need you to help write their speech. Jehovah is still too distraught to make themself comprehensible to anyone but you.”

I looked to the Capitolium on the hill behind us, the clouds now lightening over the temple which, in real Rome, would have held offerings to Jupiter, but here housed the constitutions which govern the many kingdoms of man—not much difference.

“You have an idea of how Jehovah fits in all this, don’t you?” Caesar tested.

I sighed slowly. “Not a clear one, Caesar. History’s largest war is coming. In the middle of it, Bridger was born human with the powers of a God, and Jehovah was born a God with no more powers than a human. When you first meet Bridger it’s instinct to ask: Why me? Why did God show this miracle to me, of all people, when so many better people throughout history prayed their whole lives for this and got nothing? It takes some time for the selfishness to wear off. The real question isn’t why me, it’s why now? Why, out of all the moments in history, would God show Their face now? It is not coincidence. I don’t know if Jehovah is here now because Bridger is necessary for the war, or if Bridger is here now because Jehovah is necessary for it, but I am sure they are here so they can meet, and meet at this moment of humanity’s greatest testing, the first true universal war. God, the God Who made us, is the only other member of Jehovah’s species. Deus Monotheistus one might say. Jehovah needs to meet Them more desperately than any Homo sapiens ever has. This Universe’s God is not so cruel as to deny Him that. That’s why Bridger is here.” I looked up into MASON’s uncertain eyes. “I’ve never been sure, Caesar, if… do you believe Jehovah is a God?”