Resurrecting Xena

Chapter One

Hearing Xena

"Gabrielle, it's me. I'm here. I'm in Autolycus."

"What?" Gabrielle exclaimed, quickly opening her eyes and seeing only Autolycus. She brought out the Chakram, threatening him with it again.

"What is this?" she demanded. "You learned how to impersonate Xena's voice and thought you play some kind of sick joke on me? What kind of disgusting bastard are you?"

All the time Gabrielle was berating Autolycus, she was slowly advancing on him, the Chakram on high, ready to split his skull. And Autolycus was slowly backing away, his hands defensively up in front of him until he backed into the wall next to the door.

"Now wait a minute," he implored her. "This isn't some kind of joke. Xena really is inside me. And I can prove it."

"Prove it how?" Gabrielle retorted.

"Ask me something. Something that only Xena would know about you."

Gabrielle hesitated, then said, "I have two brothers, one of them is named Herodotus. Is he the older or younger one?"

Autolycus waited until the answer from Xena came to him.

"You don't have any brothers. Herodotus is your father. You have a younger sister named Lila. And your mother's name is Hecuba."

Gabrielle slowly lowered the Chakram, but was still suspicious.

"Why is it I hear Xena's voice when my eyes are closed?"

"I'm not sure. Xena seems to think that with your eyes open and you see me, and you only hear my voice."

"I want to hear Xena talking to me."

"Then you'll have to close your eyes again."

Gabrielle walked to the side of the sarcophagus opposite Autolycus.

"You stay on that side. If I hear you coming over here, I'll gut you like a fish."

"My word. I'll stay on this side."

Gabrielle took a deep breath, then closed her eyes.

"Xena, why are you in this thief's body?"

Xena's voice replied, "I don't know how or why. All I know is that I was in the Northland and that horrible god was controlling my body. Then I felt Odin's spear tear through me. And for a just heartbeat or two I was in control of my body, then … then I guess I died, and the next thing I knew I was here, inside Autolycus."

"What's it like – being in a man's body. And can you make him do whatever you want?"

"It's very strange. Everything feels different. Well, not everything. Just some things. Like having to hold my – his, organ, when I – he, has to pee. And the mustache, the different body odor, and his penchant for eyeing the women – he seems to be an 'ass-man'. But other things, like hunger and thirst, squatting the bushes, they're pretty much the same. And since we're about the same height, what I see is the same."

"And controlling him?"

"I can, if I want to. But it's a struggle. He has a very strong will. And I think the longer I stay inside him the weaker I get. I don't know how much longer I'll be … here."

Gabrielle opened her eyes as Xena was speaking and heard the last few words in Autolycus' voice.

"Well?" he asked. "Do you believe me now?"

"Yeah, I guess I do. So – how do we get Xena out of you and back into her body?"

Autolycus shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea."

"Has Xena said anything about how to do it? And by the way – just HOW did she get into your body?"

"I'm afraid the answer to both questions is still 'I don't know'."

"Then who would know?"

"Why do you keep asking me questions I can't answer?"

"It just seems to me that being that your this so-called 'King of Thieves' that you've been around enough to know things – things other, ordinary people, might not know."

"Okay, what's with this 'so-called' business?"

"Anyone can claim anything, including being a king of thieves. As far as I know, you could be the 'King of Liars.'"

Autolycus fondled his mustache, not knowing how to respond. Then he said, "Xena want to talk to you again."

Gabrielle closed her eyes.

"Gabrielle," Xena's voice said, "I have to tell you something. When we were about to go up against Dahak, that was the god's name, by the way, I never thought we could lose; I never thought I would die, so I never bothered to – to say goodbye, or to tell you how much you mean to me. And I am so sorry for that. But I want you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"I want you to let Autolycus hold you. I know it will seem weird for you, but I need to feel you in my arms again, even if just for a moment. Can you do that?"

"Of course I can. Anything for you."

Gabrielle opened her eyes and went to Autolycus, and after several awkward moments she closed her eyes again and slid her arms around his waist as his arms went around her back. But with her eyes closed it almost felt like she was in Xena's arms, and she held her/him even tighter, her body pressed up hard against what felt like Xena's body. And without thinking about it, Gabrielle turned her face up as Autolycus did the opposite and their lips touched, and then their tongues met. But when Gabrielle moaned softly, Autolycus hurriedly released her and backed away.

"Okay," he said, breathing harder. "That was too real."

"Right there with you," Gabrielle answered, bordering on panting, but not feeling quite as embarrassed as she thought she should. But she started tending to Xena's body to let the moment pass.

"Xena wants to talk to you again."

"Okay, but you stay over there," Gabrielle said, indicating he should remain on the other side of the sarcophagus. Then she closed her eyes.

"Gabrielle, I think I may know how to have my spirit returned to my body."

"That's great! How?"

"Do you remember when we first got together we were talking about invading the lands where the Centaurs and Amazons were warring against each other?"

"I remember."

"Well, one of my scouts mentioned something that I just dismissed at the time."

"What?"

"He said the Amazons had a shamaness, a very powerful shamaness, who seemed to be turning the tide against the Centaurs. And I was thinking, that if she was that powerful, maybe she might be able to help us."

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try to find where the Amazon camp is, and to ask her to help. Although I don't know why she would. I hear the Amazons aren't very friendly toward men."

"That could be a problem. But maybe if we had something to trade, or could make it worth her while…."

"Such as?"

"I don't know. But do you realize that you'll have to take my body with you, don't you?"

"I hadn't thought that far ahead, but it makes sense. Of course the problem would be how to get your body away from here without anyone finding out until we were far, far away."

"Okay, I have to butt in here." Suddenly it was Autolycus' voice Gabrielle heard and she opened her eyes.

"What?"

"You seem to be forgetting who I am!" he exclaimed, obviously annoyed. "I can get Xena's body out of here before daybreak and no one will be the wiser."

"How?"

"You let me worry about that. You just be ready to go when I say it's time to go."