T H E P O I S O N A S P S
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A story as old as time, Cleopatra is returned to life, after her tragic departure.
<<<<<< ACTIUM RETREAT
On an overcast August day in 30 B.C., sun streaming through the clouds to strike golden relief on Palace architectures, the Egyptian pharaoh Cleopatra VII locked herself in her mausoleum, one that she’d built on the palace grounds in Alexandria, grief stricken.
The
Goddess Isis reborn thought back to when she'd spread a rumour about the Palace of the mood of the queen, that all therein
supposed she had gone to kill herself. And that much horrified at such news and
thinking only to give weight to such whispers, Mark Antony immediately tried to follow
suit, stabbing himself with his own sword, but then learned the messages
were greatly exaggerated; his dearest was alive. Managing then to survive long enough to
struggle to her side.
Though Cleopatra had shut herself in her mausoleum with two handmaidens, Iras and Charmion, he gained access.
There, Antony died in her arms. She relived these moments of tortuous love lost, and again the tears flooded her features. She longed for blessed release. But oh for the tools to achieve her end. Long in the planning, and impatient to see her plotting supply her the means.
SERPENT'S KISS
She had loved fiercely, lost deeply, and fought valiantly.
Now, she was ready to face her destiny. She had played her final role, the role of the dying queen. She reached deep under the figs in her daily basket of fruits, and found two Asps there under. Bringing one close to her bossom, the other wrapped around her arm. Both serpents struck, one after the other. The first bit her breast, stinging a little and with quite a forceful bite, that would cause bruising. The other Cobra's fangs sunk into her arm. The 39 year old queen had surely killed herself. The mischief would be swift.
And as the poison coursed through her veins, she closed her eyes, her mind filled with visions of the afterlife.
The day of her death arrived. As she lay dying, surrounded by her loyal servants, she thought of the life she had lived. A life of passion, power, and ultimately, tragedy.
In these last moments and in her mind she re-imagined Antony in her arms, and dressed in her formal robes and jewels, playing out the part again, the queen grasped a writhing asp that had been smuggled to her just as those from the fig basket, bringing the serpent to her bare breast, the Egyptian cobra administered the fatal bite, the other missing the intended target and biting her on the arm.
These were her last imaginings. A final replay of her finest hour.
Her final defiance. Her bravery.
She owed that much to her beloved Antonious.
DIVINE INTERVENTION
"Oh, Great Isis," she pleaded, "protect me in the darkness that lies ahead. Guide me to the afterlife, and ensure my body remains undisturbed."
"Your devotion to Egypt and your love for Antony have touched the hearts of the gods. Anubis, the guardian of the underworld, will watch over your mortal remains."
"I shall ensure your journey to the afterlife is smooth, Cleopatra," Anubis declared. "And I shall protect your body until the time of your rebirth."
THE SERPENT'S KISS, THE QUEEN'S LAST BREATH
The heavy, perfumed air of the queen's chambers hung thick with the scent of decay. Cleopatra, her once vibrant eyes now clouded and dull, lay upon her gilded couch, her breath shallow and ragged. The
asps, their venom coursed through her veins, had delivered their fatal kiss.
Anubis, the god of the dead, appeared, his jackal-headed form imposing yet comforting. He extended his arms, and Cleopatra's spirit slipped into his embrace. A sense of peace washed over her as she felt herself being drawn into the underworld.
Cleopatra, overwhelmed with gratitude, thanked the gods for their mercy. As her spirit began to ascend, she felt a sense of peace and tranquility. She knew that her legacy would endure, and that she would one day return to the world, reborn in a time of light and hope.
As the last vestiges of life left Cleopatra's body, a divine energy enveloped her. Isis and Anubis, moved by her courage and faith, watched over her, ensuring her safe passage to the underworld. And there, in the realm of the dead, she would await her chance for rebirth, a chance to return to the world and continue her eternal journey.
CHARMIAN AND IRAS SHARE THEIR QUEEN'S FATE
And as the poison invaded Cleopatra's veins, her loyal handmaidens, Charmian and Iras, stood by her side. Their hearts were heavy with grief, their spirits broken by the loss of their beloved queen. They knew that their fate was sealed. Octavian, in his ruthless pursuit of power, would not spare those who had aided Cleopatra's defiance.
But their grief for their queen surpassed their fear of the future. Cleopatra, the epitome of grace and strength, had always inspired them. She had taught them the true meaning of loyalty and the importance of standing by one's convictions.
"We cannot let them take us alive, Iras. We must join our queen in death."
"We will not be slaves to Rome. We will share her fate."
With trembling hands, they reached for the vial of poison that Cleopatra had thought to use to ease the pain. A bittersweet smile played on their lips as they raised the vial to their lips. A single drop, a silent prayer, and they would be reunited with their queen, forever bound by their loyalty and love. A painless release, sent them sprawling, a noisy uncontrolled crashing aside their Queen.
The Roman guards, alerted by the commotion, stormed into the chamber. Their faces hardened as they saw the lifeless form of their captive queen.
As they closed their eyes, they imagined a peaceful afterlife, a place where they would serve Cleopatra eternally, free from the shackles of mortality. Their deaths, though tragic, were also a testament to their unwavering devotion to their queen.
A tragic end to a golden reign.
The queen died in an honorable way according to Roman standards. Cleopatra’s final act was her finest one.
After,
a note was delivered to Octavian reminding about her burial requests.
TSUNAMI 365AD >>>>>>
NOTES
[Captured so well in 1607 by William Shakespeare's Antonous and Cleopatra first performed at the Globe Theatre.]
Alexandria and Thonis soon fell into ways unbecoming their former glory.
For the next four hundred years, the city and satellites lived it up, then an earthquake struck, followed by a devastating tsunami. Alexandria and Thonis were washed into the sea, not to be seen again for over a thousand years.
It was thought by UNESCO and Blue shield, that these two important historic municipalities were safe from looters, being underwater, but the advent of SCUBA gear and lack of regular security patrols, were weaknesses that even sports divers were able to exploit.
PROLOGUE INNER CIRCLE OF SIX - Nazi funded medical human research laboratories Joseph Mengele's Fourth Reich escape to Brazil reserve plan. CHAPTER 1. THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM - Queen Cleopatra retreats leaving Mark Antony to lose against Octavian and seek a new deal with Rome CHAPTER 2. THE POISON ASP - Hotfoot from Actium, Cleopatra's plan to seduce Octavian backfired leading to a suicide pact with Anubis and Isis CHAPTER 3. WRATH OF THE GODS - 365BC destruction of Thonis and Alexandria, Anubis and Isis watch on in horror as Cleopatra is submerged CHAPTER 4. NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy, for doing good CHAPTER 5. THE AFTERLIFE - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries submerged and out of sight with little change of discovery CHAPTER 6. CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a semi religious sect, New World Order CHAPTER 7. INCUBUS - Roberta Ferrara secures the expertise of Franco Francisco for knights of the New World Order: Neuwelt Rittertum CHAPTER 8. SPLICE - Klaus and Eva von Kolreuter find a way to live forever using cloning technology; Genonimo Investments, Geneva CHAPTER 9. TREMORS - Cleopatra's feels vibrations after a shift in the tectonic plates triggered a tremor off the coast of Alexandria. CHAPTER 10. PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - The secret is out, an enhanced human is spotted running at unbelievable speeds CHAPTER 11. THE AMAZON - Charley agrees to meet John & Dan at Manaus, but is a little too inquisitive CHAPTER 12. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures. CHAPTER 13. SCOTLAND YARD - The famous London DNA database is stolen, the biggest data heist to date. The Yard initiates a cover up CHAPTER 14. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace. CHAPTER 15. KIDNAP - Charley is taken prisoner but John rescues her, in the process becoming injected with a serum CHAPTER 16. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice. CHAPTER 17. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence and implanted memories. CHAPTER 18. FULL STEAM AHEAD - Storm speeds to Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered. CHAPTER 19. RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation. CHAPTER 20. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds secret Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators. CHAPTER 21. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant. CHAPTER 22. MILITARY INTERVENTION - The military detain Cleopatra to appease stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught. CHAPTER 23. BATTLE ARMOUR - Thanks to some unexplained divine intervention, Dan Hawk talks John Storm into wearing a bullet proof suit. CHAPTER 24. DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned: FINALE
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GRAPHIC BRIEF - SUGGESTED LAYOUTS/ FORMAT
CHAPTER 1. THE POISON ASP - Overwhelmed by grief, Cleopatra poisons herself with a cobra bite in her mausoleum CHAPTER 2. WRATH OF THE GODS - The destruction of Thonis and Alexandria CHAPTER 3. NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy CHAPTER 4. CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a religious sect CHAPTER 5. INCUBUS - Franco Francisco accepts offer of employment from Roberta Ferrara CHAPTER 6. SPLICE - Klaus von Kolreuter perfects a method of gene manipulation CHAPTER 7. TREMORS - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries, until shift in the tectonic plates trigger tremor off the coast of Alexandria CHAPTER 8. PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - Marjorie Boyle videos exceptionally fast athlete, Sam Hollis investigates CHAPTER 9. AMAZON QUEEN - Elizabeth Swann navigating river and docking at Manaus CHAPTER 10. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures CHAPTER 11. SCOTLAND YARD - London's secure DNA database is stolen CHAPTER 12. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace CHAPTER 13. KIDNAPPED - Charley is taken prisoner, John, Dan and CIA rescue her CHAPTER 14. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice CHAPTER 15. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence, implanted memories CHAPTER 16. FULL STEAM AHEAD - To Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered CHAPTER 17. RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation CHAPTER 18. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators CHAPTER 19. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant CHAPTER 20. MILITARY INTERVENTION - Military detain Cleopatra for stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught CHAPTER 21. DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned
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The rights of Jameson Hunter and Cleaner Ocean Foundation to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. This website and the associated Cleopatra artwork is Copyright © 2024 Cleaner Ocean Foundation and Jameson Hunter. This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the authors' imaginations, and any resemblance to any person, living or departed, is entirely coincidental.
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