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During a 2nd century victory celebration, a silver flying saucer landed. The Romans assumed that this was a chariot of the gods. They soon learned that their visitors were not gods, but came from much farther away than Olympus. A green lizard-like species descended from the ship proposing an exchange of ideas and representatives. Through a world-wide competition, the most marvelous Roman was chosen through tests of dexterity, strength and mind. A man second only to Emporer Hadrian, Marcus �lius, clearly stood above the rest and was chosen to travel to and study on the aliens' homeworld. On the alien homeworld, Marcus was taught, trained and guided so that they he return to Earth as its protector. The aliens had machines that hold and sort all their accumulated knowledge, which he was exposed to. After more than 10 years, Marcus was sent home to Earth and he programmed his alien-given ship to land in the world's largest city, which he presumed would be Rome. He returned in the latter part of the 20th century, as much longer had passed due to the vagaries of quantum physics involved in the alien-style of interstellar travel. When he returned he was overwhelmed by the world's largest city of Metropolis, as well as the beauty of Lois Lane, who he saved and soon became his betroved. Marcus built up an empire and gave the city a very Roman influence. The 100, the deputies of the Alpha Centurian were hand picked officers of the law that were outfitted much like their leader. Marcus, the 100 and the Eyes of M.A.R.C.H., a surveilance system on every city corner, turned his city into a virtual utopia for lawful citizens. Ten years after his return to Earth, a crisis in time called "Zero Hour" took place and timelines crossed over one another and Superman crossed paths with the Alpha Centurian. They teamed up to fix the problem, but once the heroes learned that their planed solution would erase all other timelines besides Superman's, Marcus and other variant timeline heroes turned on Kal-El. Marcus and the others alligned themselves with Parallax, who wanted all timelines to co-exist, so that every hero could have their own timeline. The last we saw of Marcus was when the solution worked and he disapearied along with other heroes from alternate timelines such as the still non-paralyzed Batgirl. Superman thought this was the last he would ever see of the Alpha Centurian. However, in a few short weeks, Kal-El's timeline too would produce it's own Marcus �lius, although this timeline's Alpha Centurion would be tow-headed instead of a dark-haired man.
During the celebration, a golden flying saucer landed. The Romans assumed that this was a chariot of the gods. They soon learned that their visitors were not gods, but came from much farther away than Olympus. Nuntius, of the Virmiru, a lizard-like species, descended from the ship proposing an exchange of ideas and representatives. Through a world-wide competition, the most marvelous Roman was chosen through tests of dexterity, strength and mind. A man above men, Marcus Ae�lius clearly stood above the rest and was chosen to travel to and study on the Virmiru homeworld for ten years. The Virmiru chose one of their own to stay behind in Marcus Aelius' place. On the Virmiru homeworld, Marcus was issued a personal recorder to preserve his observations of wonder and was fitted with armor along with the other exchange representitves from a universe of varying genotypes. Each representative was to be taught, trained and guided so that they could return to their homeworlds as its protector and shining examples of the Virmiru's boundless generosity. The Virmiru have machines that hold and sort all their accumulated knowledge, which the representatives are exposed to. The training was intense yet satisfying to Marcus' body and soul. His fellow men, which were once so alient to Marcus became like brothers to him. After years of superior performance, Marcus was sent home to Earth and was shown what had happened in the many years that had passed since he first left Rome. He programmed his ship to land in the largest city on Earth, which he presumed would be Rome. When he returned via his Virmiru-given ship, the "Pax Romana" it was the last part of the 20th century. Much longer had passed due to the vagaries of quantum physics involved in that form of interstellar travel. He was overwhelmed by the amazing city of Metropolis, where he landed, as well as the beauty of Lois Lane, who he had saved when her helicopter lost power due to an electromagnetic pulse. This pulse was part of the Pax Romana's security systems set-off by Superman grabbing the ship before it landed in Centenial Park. Marcus' attraction to Lois put him at odds with Superman, even though Marcus was a honorable super-hero not unlike Kal-El. Superman inadvertantly named Marcus "Alpha Centurion" by mistaking him for the man he had met during the Zero Hour crisis. Lois thought the name would make for a great headline and Marcus conceded while giving her the story of his past. Marcus quickly put his powers to good use in ending a threat of a tanker fire in Metropolis Harbor and maintained a high level of visibility in the city, dealing in kind with both low-lifes and high society. His appearance at one fundraiser was credited with raising over a half a million dollars for the Metropolis Opera Company. Even the corporate world took an interest in the Alpha Centurion. The city's elite turned out at LexCorp tower for a gala celebration to honor the hero. The then-CEO of LexCorp, Contessa Erica Alexandra Del Portenza redesignated LexCorp's security team, the "LexMen", into "The Centurions". Marcus lead this armored team of 100, training & hand-picking them personally, to assist him in defending the city from crime. When Superman was kidnapped and put on trial by the Galactic Tribunal for Krypton's destruction, Marcus lead a hand-picked team of Superboy, Supergirl, Steel & the Eradicator. They were successful in freeing Superman, and Team Superman was born. Marcus continued to defend the city from menaces such as the Parasite, Scavenger, Shaman, Cyborg, and many others until Lex Luthor interfered. Lex Luthor was very jealous of the attention Marcus received from the public and especially his new fianc�é, Contessa Erica Alexandra Del Portenza. During the Mars Mission Testimonial in Metropolis, Lex, who was then involved with the Contesa hacked into the suits of Marcus' three best Centurions. Lex caused the suits that the men were in to start firing upon the guests! After the Centurions were incapacitated, Lex threw the "kill switch" that killed the unwilling would-be murderers. Stinging from the public betrayl of his hand-picked centurions, Marcus �Aelius sought a new home, but not before saying goodbye to Lois and finally getting that kiss he had long saught. The incident in Metropolis bruised his pride, but he left that city with his honor intact. Although he had once eyed Rome, Washington D.C.'s cachet of power suited him, a man very much experienced in the leading of other men. Once in Washington, he battled a historical treasure thief Ephemera which caught the attention of a Virmiru, Bellator, who was also in Washington D.C. Bellator informed Marcus that the Virmiru exchange representative counterpart of his, Foris Ab Talimen, had gone rogue. A coded communique was placed on the Internet and in many newspapers, and Foris sent word to Marcus to meet. After the two met in a diplomatic party's back room, they agreed to meet under the cover of night. There they battled until Foris was able to convince Marcus that he had not gone rogue, that in fact the Virmiru intended to conquer Earth, among other "inferior" species' planets that the Virmiru had exchanged representatives with. The two then met up in the ship of Bellator, the Virmiru Interstellar Affairs Councilor, where a pitched battle was fought. Bellator then admited the plans of the Virmiru and let the two know that the invasion had already been launched, and that the new ships the Virmiru piloted could get to Earth in only 60 years. Forus killed Bellator before he told then when the invasion was launched or if Earth was even first on the invasion hitlist. Marcus was severely injured in the battle, but he and Forus returned to the Pax Romana, where Marcus was able to soak in the miraculous healing waters of the Aqua Vitae that the Virmiru provided in the Pax Romana. Each exchange representative was given such a unit. When visiting Metropolis to attend his friend, Lois Lane's wedding, Batman asked the Alpha Centurion to stay in Metropolis briefly because of Superman being on a secret mission. In reality, it was to cover for Superman's secret identity, Clark Kent, celebrating his honeymoon with his new wife, Lois Lane. Marcus gladly acceped and stayed until his friend, Superman, could return to duties.
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During a 2nd century victory celebration, the Emporer Hadrian addressed his subjects and asked them to hail the mighty Marcus �Aelius, Lion of Rome. Marcus, because of his cunning, valor and ferocity in battle, was given credit for the Romans' victory that was being celebrated.