Chapter Thirty Seven

Ellipses were interesting villages. There were groups of many different kinds of houses all separated by class. The rich were clustered together on the west and the poor clustered together in the east. In the center was the merchant class, and this was where Xena pointed Argo. Joxer sighed and slipped his mask on.

"I still really don't like that mask," Xena muttered.

"Well, it's useful, and at least you know what's under it. Oh, and by the way, don't call me Joxer. Remember as long as I am wearing this mask, I have to be known as Lockinus or else."

"This isn't my first fight, Joxer. I realize that your identity must be kept secret. You just be careful . . ."

"And I will, too," came a voice behind them.

Xena spun around to see Gabrielle running up to them. "Wow, I'm impressed. I actually snuck up on you, Xena. Hey, you found Lockinus!" she added.

"Gabrielle . . ." Xena said. "How?"

"Hermes . . . just because he didn't know where Lockinus was didn't mean he didn't know where you are. When are you going to learn that leaving me behind just makes me more likely to come find you?!"

Xena shook her head with a small smile. Then she glanced at Lockinus. "So . . . do you know who Lockinus is?"

"I still am trying to pin that down. I bet its Hercules," she said confidently, making Joxer laugh.

"No, but we have too many people milling around to let you know the truth," Xena pointed out. "I do wish for once you had listened to me, Gabrielle. This village is the site of recent murmurings of Dahak."

Gabrielle swallowed a few times, the normal reaction she had whenever Dahak was mentioned. She had been affected worse than even Xena by him. A child brought into life, that same child Gabrielle had to kill. Then Gabrielle's grandchild killing Hope . . . It was understandable why Xena wanted Gabrielle out of this for a change, but Joxer could have told Xena it was like waving a red flag in front of a minotaur to leave Gabrielle out of it.

"Okay, so what's the plan? Do you want to split up and gather some information, meet back in the square?"

That was Gabrielle for you. Even with what had happened, she was still ready to jump into battle.

Suddenly, without warning a new person came running up.

Someone very familiar.

"Joxer?" Lockinus said, not knowing what else to say. There was Joxer . . . it was him! "No, it's not possible . . ."

"Hey, Joxer," Gabrielle said even as Xena gaped. "I guess you're as bad as I am. Neither of us know when it's better to stay put."

"Hey, Gabby, Xena, Me."

"Wait, what?"

Who said that first was hard to tell. Xena was wondering if she was seeing things. Joxer felt totally strange, because this newcomer was . . . well, him! The normal aura, not like Jett or Jace but his own, like a fingerprint, aura. And Gabrielle? She was the last to know about who Joxer really was, so she was actually asking if he meant what she thought he did.

"Look, just let's get to the inn. It's the only safe place from Iolaus."

"Wait, what?!"

Again, three at one time, but Joxer just sighed and looked at Lockinus. "Man, I didn't realize how stupid that mask made me look. I digress, trust me on this one and let's go—unless you want all your friends to be destroyed."

Joxer looked into his own eyes and realized that this face was so familiar he could tell what he was feeling—fear. "Alright, let's go," he agreed. Xena sighed.

"Our lives just keep getting more confusing. Alright."

The three walked in, Gabrielle staring at Lockinus. "Are you saying Joxer is under there? Or is Joxer just being a pain?"

"One thing, Gabrielle," Xena said. "Joxer is always a pain. Look, just keep quiet. The fate of lives can rest in the balance if we keep talking. Just call the one in the mask Lockinus for the time being and the other one Joxer. It's a long story. I mean, really. Joxer wasted the whole trip here with his tale. There's no time to fill you in."

"Okay, I'll wait . . . but only so long," she added with a glare at Xena. It was understandable. Gabrielle was the bard! And she didn't know the story!

The three entered the inn. Xena had her hackles raised the whole trip but relaxed once they entered the interior. "Why isn't the essence of Dahak here? It is saturated throughout this town. All except for here."

"Hestia is one of the gods that doesn't fear Dahak. She blessed this inn a long time ago."

"Okay, what's going on?" Lockinus demanded.

"Okay, but just remember to calm down," Joxer ordered. Three hostile gazes stared back. Xena because she was getting tired of not being told what was going on and the saturation of Dahak energy had her more on edge than if Alti herself were here.

Lockinus because he was getting a bad feeling of what had happened in order to bring himself face to face.

And Gabrielle because everyone knew more about what was going on here than she did.

"Alright, well, thanks for the understanding," Joxer said with rolled eyes. "First things first—we're all friends here. And no enemy can enter. So, Joxer allow Gabrielle to know who you are."

Lockinus reluctantly removed his mask. Yes, Xena was immune . . . but he had a sick fear that this was all a trick from the gods to make him lose the woman he loved. But Gabrielle just stared and then smiled. "This is incredible. When did you learn to fight?"

"Long story!" Xena yelled.

"Okay, I can forego it," Gabrielle conceded. "For now . . . So, what's the real issue here. Why are there two Joxers? Or is it Jett?"

"No, I am Joxer," he said. "The thing is everyone tomorrow morning will be drastically altered, either killed or . . ." His eyes shot to Gabrielle and sighed. "That's not important now. Let me tell you what happened . . . in my time line. I am from the future. And this is what will happen if we don't prevent it."