Author's Notes: Wow! At last I get some constructive criticism and not just adoring praise... Thanks Agent-G; I suppose your concern is valid, when I wrote up the rough draft I decided not to alter the dialogue from those particular scenes in the episode; since my character was standing guard outside instead of witness to what was happening. So I just figured I didn't need those scenes; however now that you point it out I'm beginning to wonder if I didn't make some kind of mistake. Perhaps I'll alter that chapter at a later date and incorporate the necessary scene/scenes once I get some free time to alter things; until then I'm afraid it'll have to remain as is and look unfinished I suppose, though in truth I never really thought of it as unfinished in the first place. (Then again when I was doing the whole copying of scenes for the stories purpose it tended to take me a long time; with over six hours for one episode alone, it's possible that it was getting really late that night and I was just too tired to think clearly, who can say.)
The usual disclaimer doth apply; and please note my promptness in updating of late, since I've got three other stories in sequencial order on stand by and now that I have more time I'm getting this up as fast as I can, and afterwards we'll move on to the last of the Xena stories and then into that wonderful century filled with Warp drives, transporters and food replicators. So if you enjoy reading about Alain Desrochers exploits; please by all means continue to read the wonder that is Chrysalis, a novel built for the fans by a fan.
"Most of us can still walk." Ephiny observed sometime later at the caves; the flight here was a blur to my mind, I'd been too lost trying to figure out just what the hell caused that energy blast to miss me. "But I can't leave the wounded here." She added.
"No we wanna fight; send us back." The Amazon Gabrielle was bandaging began. "We can take Velasca." She proclaimed.
"No." Xena countered. "She can't be killed; she's an immortal." She added before turning back to Ephiny; when did that happen exactly? "Send the wounded to Tildus and the Centaurs; he'll take care of them, and make sure they tell him to stay where he is. Velasca's not after him yet." She suggested with a strong hint of an order behind her words; Gabrielle made a little noise, which sounded slightly exhausted.
"No; she's after me." She stated calmly; I glanced at her worriedly that tone of voice made me wish I could remember things better at times. "It's ok; I'm all right with that." She added glancing between Xena, Ephiny and myself with reassurance; I really wanted to offer my opinion, but at times like this I usually felt it was better to say nothing then get mocked.
"Yet we can't just hide; we have to do something." The unknown Amazon stated in a frustrated tone; I had to agree with that, when running from a God it's always nice to know you can eventually escape their wrath.
"Yes." Xena agreed speaking softly in deep thought; judging by her expression. "I need as many Amazons as possible to delay her." She added turning back to Ephiny. "Don't get anyone killed, just slow her down; we need time." She added glancing briefly to me; oh joy, so good to know I'm not forgotten during these little plotting sessions.
"Shouldn't be a problem." Ephiny remarked sounding slightly sarcastic. "I think I'm high on her list of things to do." She added tilting her head briefly to indicate the other Amazon should follow her; she quickly took off, but Ephiny still had something to say judging by her body language. "Xena; that arm's dislocated." She pointed out; I hadn't really noticed the arm Xena was favoring, being all uninjured and useless to anybody.
"Oh; yeah." Xena agreed glancing around briefly before moving off; she rammed into the wall an audible pop was heard. "All better now." She stated rejoining us; part of me was disgusted the other couldn't help, but think that was so cool. "See." She added waving the arm around; Ephiny walked off without a word and Xena turned to Gabrielle. "You alright?" She asked.
"Yeah, yeah; you know, Ephiny may be high on the list. But I'm on top." She returned in a semi-joking manner. "I've never been a target before… I mean; I've never been hunted." She added in a lower, more serious tone; Xena's face fell a little and I felt like I should lighten the mood for some reason.
"Welcome to the club." I quipped; both women shot me a tiny glare. "Sorry." I mumbled; Gabrielle glanced worriedly at her Amazon companions still mulling about the cavern and then back to Xena.
"Xena; what are we gonna do?" She asked softly; great question, I turned a pointedly concerned look at the Warrior Princess as well. "Against a God." She added under her breath even as I wondered where Hercules was when you really needed him.
"Well we need some help that's for sure." Xena admitted; I rolled my eyes for some reason, but she ignored me. "And to fight an Immortal I need an Immortal." She added.
"Do you know where you can find one?" Gabrielle asked; Xena's face took on a mask of confident distaste as a thought must have hit her.
"Yes." She replied. "Yes I do." She added her tone barely containing the hatred for the person she must be thinking about.
"So where to?" I asked; Xena looked to me as if reconsidering my presence on this journey, but I knew I'd have to come; Ares and Hera still wanted me dead after all.
Xena then began to explain her plan; apparently Hercules had dealt with someone called Callisto recently, needed her for some mission or other. Something about golden apples and granting immortality to people; Gabrielle looked more upset by the minute, and as Xena prepared for departure she expressed as much.
"This is Callisto we're talking about." She exclaimed disparagingly. "We can't free her; there's gotta be another way Xena." She stated moving her hands to her hips; personally I didn't see what the big problem was, but then again I was new to this whole group dynamic thing.
"Callisto is an immortal." Xena countered. "She's not a God, but she's as close as we're gonna get on short notice." She added firmly; oh boy I can't wait to meet this woman, I thought to myself secretly wondering if it was too late to join Joxer.
"What about Hercules; huh?" Gabrielle asked hopefully kneeling so she could look her friend in the eyes.
"We don't have time to find him." Xena countered shooting the idea down.
"No really." I muttered more to myself then the others.
"Velasca's just learning her powers; every time she uses them the lag time's going to get shorter." Xena explained seeming to understand things a lot more then I would have believed. "Look Gabrielle I know how much this hurts you." She added trying to sound sympathetic; the expression on Gabrielle's face spoke otherwise.
"No you don't." She retorted cutting into Xena with her words. "Every time I close my eyes I hear her voice, I hear Perdicus scream; now I have to live with that 'til the day I die." She stated; Xena was silent, but her eyes spoke volumes. I was so quiet my breathing had even slowed; this Callisto really must have played a big part in their lives.
"What makes you think that Callisto would help you?" She asked finally breaking the long and uncomfortable silence.
"I'll just have to talk her into it." Xena replied somberly before heading for the cave entrance; Gabrielle watched her leave before finally heading after her, I waited only a fraction of a second later.
"Wonderful; what's next?" I asked of no one in particular marching along after the two women; for some reason I felt I had to add. "How do I get myself into these messes?"
Zeus silently watched the young man leave with his friends; Athena by his side, she was smiling at the man's parting words. Zeus however was far from amused; Ambrosia was a sacred thing and should not fall into the hands of mere mortals, they could never comprehend the true dangers.
With a silent sigh he re-strengthened the shield he'd placed around the young man and sat back to finish watching how this little game would play out; Ares always had spoke highly of Xena, perhaps she could diffuse the situation without divine intervention.
"Hey." I called to Gabrielle a little time later as we followed Xena along the road. "Just who is this Callisto anyway?" I wondered.
"She's… I don't want to talk about it." She returned in a low and somber tone; I bowed my head a little in acceptance.
"Oh… Sorry." I returned in an equally low tone.
"She led a complicated life." Gabrielle suddenly spoke up taking me by surprise. "She blamed Xena for a great wrong that was committed against her and sought to destroy her… I kind of got caught in the middle." She admitted sorrowfully.
"Sorry." I said sincerely." So now we're hopping she'll help us against Velasca then." I added simply to clarify matters; Gabrielle chuckled bitterly.
"So it seems." She agreed.
"Joy; now I understand why Xena was reluctant to let me travel with you, not a very healthy lifestyle for someone who wants to grow old." I remarked casually; Xena glanced back at me knowingly, I smiled at her.
"Perhaps you should fight Velasca; she can't seem to harm you." She revealed; I lowered my head shamefacedly and groaned.
"So you noticed." I muttered.
"Noticed what?" Gabrielle wondered glancing between the both of us.
"When Velasca was destroying the village she aimed a bolt at our friend here, but it missed him." She replied; I nodded at Gabrielle's look of shocked disbelief.
"Don't have a clue why… But hey; I'm not complaining." I admitted with a grin.
"Maybe one of the Gods protected you." Gabrielle hypothesized; I laughed out loud at that, harshly and disbelievingly. "Yeah; kinda not a typical response from them." She agreed; Xena seemed to smirk at that, but continued to lead us now in silence little knowing that Gabrielle was speaking truth.
To Be Continued: AT LAST; ALUMNI MEETS CALLISTO, What will she say? How will he react? Will he ever get up enough nerve to actually do more then just listen in during the plotting sessions? Find out in the next exciting chapter of... OF GODS AND WOMEN, PART DEUX.
