Synopsis: Drowning in a sea of plots and conspiracies, Rory just wants his life back. But in Ancient Rome, people don't retire, they die. And that's a bit difficult when you’re immortal.
Plot: Now the emperor of Rome, Rory struggles to adapt to his new responsibilities and the expectations everyone has of him. In an attempt to create a place where he can just be himself he orders the creation of a private shrine for Amy, telling people it's a shrine to a household goddess named Amelia. Meanwhile general Marius is insistent on progressing Rome's conquest of the world while Felix's late wife Juliana is determined to ensure her son Hilarius has a future, and Rory struggles to hide his immortality which is made difficult due to assassination attempts. During this time Rory befriends a slave named Anna, who discovers his immortality and does her best to console him when he finds his responsibilities difficult. Rory is eventually told by Marius that he must take part in a ceremony honouring Vulcan which involves putting his hand into a fire, and implies that Hilarius would be more willing if Rory refuses. It's eventually made clear that Marius is the one responsible for the assassination attempts and Anna says he had hoped Rory would be a puppet emperor, and now seeks to make Hilarius emperor to achieve that. While Anna comes up with a plan to arrange for the ceremony to take place near a fountain Rory made for Amy so she could throw water on him if the flames prove dangerous, Rory discovers that someone had drowned Anna when he unveils it to the public though he is able to resuscitate her. He then proclaims that Anna was saved by Amelia and makes her high priestess while abdicating, simply wanting to leave Rome with the Pandorica which Marius allows simply to avoid further complications while Hilarius is made emperor. While leaving Anna tries to come with him but he refuses, and reveals a little about his situation before saying goodbye.
Tropes
- All Love Is Unrequited: It's implied that Anna had fallen for Rory, but recognises that he has feelings for Amy.
- Alternate Timeline: Rory mentions this while talking to a statue of Amy, as he wonders if him being emperor means he's in an alternate timeline because he doesn't recall ever learning about a emperor named Rory. However he also notes that Rome might just have been embarrassed about having been ruled by both a woman and a former gladiator that they hid the truth.
- Call-Forward: While talking to a statue to Amy after Juliana suggests that he adopts Hilarius, he says that while they never talked about it he had hoped they would one day have kids of their own or possibly adopt. He also said he would be happy to do both as no matter what they would still be their children.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Neither Tacitus or Decima appear in this, and an explanation isn't even given to explain their disappearance.
- Double Consciousness: Rory explains to Anna that he does know how to be a Roman as the knowledge is in his brain, but the problem is that since he never learned it naturally it takes effort to access that knowledge.
- Rags to Riches: Not that Rory was poor in his time, but prior to this story he had spent around sixteen years guarding the Pandorica on his own and then became a gladiator and an assassin. Now he is one of the most powerful and wealthy men in the known world.
- Interclass Friendship: Rory, who is now Caesar, develops one with Anna who is a slave. Despite only knowing each other for a few days they become close as Rory is able to open up to her while treating Anna with more respect than anyone has likely ever shown her.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Marius might be a cruel man who wants a puppet emperor that he can control, but he isn't wrong when he says that Rory's attempts at reform are just going to cause problems. While Rory does come from a more advanced and progressive society and his ideas are good by a modern standpoint, to an average Roman in this era these ideas go against everything they believe and they are perfectly happy with keeping things the way they are despite Rory's insistence that he could make their lives better.
- Leg Focus: Juliana tells Rory when seeing a statue of Amy that the legs are too long, and he simply responds by saying that she's supposed to be a goddess.
- Nice to the Waiter: While Rory is annoyed with his Imperial Chef Quinn who keeps trying to feed Rory, who always refuses since he can't eat, he does treat him with respect and seems to like him. That's why he's horrified when Marius kills him, and while Quinn is dying in his arms Rory tells him that he can make a feast for Rory as long as he lives. He's also kind to Anna who is a slave.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Rory tries to be this, but the problem is that what he is trying to do isn't something the people of Rome want.
- Sympathetic Slave Owner: Rory is this since as emperor of Rome he owns all the slaves working at the palace, which includes his new friend Anna. Rory is actually ashamed when he realises that he has been ordering Anna about and "becoming Roman", and tells her often that she can speak her mind while treating her with respect. This obviously puts him at odds with Marius and Roman society, and the best thing he can do before he leaves is free Anna and make her a priestess so that she will be safe.
