"Here." Crouching awkwardly on a high-reaching tree limb, Tyr Anasazi passed the tool pouch down to his companion. "And make it swift. This planet is dangerous enough without unnecessary primate trickery."
"I'll just put this..." Trance held up a small camera device. "...here. And the voice receiver right below it, both should be invisible in the leaves, they really are pretty in hue..."
"Still. Now." Bending to clap a hand over her mouth, he tensed, ears picking up the distant footsteps. "It would seem that your friends are returning. Listen, or leave?"
"Well..." She fought against his hand, curling downward for a glance. "That might be a difficult choice. If we leave, we lose the information, but if we stay, well, there are two possibilities, that we might not be caught, or that we might be caught..."
"Well choose, and swiftly."
"I'm not sure."
"You, not certain of an outcome?"
"Shh..." She hissed, flattening against the limb as the travelers came within view.
"Very well, we stay." Stilling, he listened carefully. Quietly, and then with more animation, the voices rose.
"I left it here."
"Your queen clearly hasn't returned. That leads me to suspect that she has no intention of doing so."
"Oh, she'll return. Always does." The first voice darkened to amused annoyance.
"And I have no doubt her company will be familiar."
*
"It isn't a personal battle." Watching as her companion prepared for landing, Gabrielle clenched hands on her knees. "I've long since stopped feeling anything for Ares beyond pity. This isn't personal. He has a foot in the Nietzschean system...their warrior icon, so to speak. Your Tyr might recognize his relevance. He pretends to be their patron."
"But?"
"Any hope of retrieving Xena lies on Earth. Earth, unfortunately, lies in Nietzschean hands. He will ultimately try to destroy them."
"To free Earth, and that's a bad thing?"
"It isn't the only thing. Herc...Dylan...you know the Nietzscheans. You live with one. They don't like being duped. Eventually, they'll find that Ares isn't a god...or at least but a pale shadow of one. He's worthless to them in the end. They don't like being duped by inferiors, and they will counterstrike. I don't pretend to know how, or where, or when...but they will strike, en masse, and the only thing more dangerous than Nietzscheans squabbling amongst themselves is Nietzscheans fighting together."
He considered, before finally reaching for the communications button. "Tyr, Trance, you've just had a change of plans."
*
"Tyr, Trance, you've just had a change of plans."
The message cut into the silence with alacrity, and the recipients froze just as quickly. The conversation below stopped swiftly.
"Oh, NO." Uttered Trance faintly, tail swinging aside to grasp the transceiver and shake it off forcefully.
"Too late." The Nietzschean muttered, extending an arm to grasp her waist and plunging them both down through the foliage until they hit the ground with faint jars.
"The camera and..." Trance turned to go back.
"Forget them. We've already been discovered."
"Yes, you have. And no, I didn't dismiss you."
Blinking at the sudden burst of light, both stared at the man striding towards them. Trance tapped on her companions foot urgently. "Tyr, he was just *back there*."
"I am perfectly well aware of that." The other swallowed his own discomfited surprise, pushing her back and moving ahead, voice raised. "Who are you?"
"The name is Ares. You and your perky little fiend were spying on me. Oh, and I do mean *fiend*. Reminds me of my queen. A real..."
"We are vastly more interested in who you are and what you are than the details of your questionable love life."
"Well, that is an entire mythos in itself." The man shrugged.
"Ares." Nearby shrubbery gave way, and a familiar voice drifted in.
"Gabrielle!" Gemini clapped her hands together, nervous excitement riddling her tones. "Okay, he can pop in and out of existence..."
"From one place to another." The darkly clad man corrected.
"Either way, it is a questionable talent. Who are you both?"
"That's a long story." Gabrielle reached their side, muscles tense, shoulders squared.
"And one that I don't have time to waste on with your mortals." Ares raised his hands, smile faintly derisive. "Sorry, queenie, but I have no time to waste."
"Ares, don't do it." Gabrielle's tones were soft, pleading, but laced with steel.
"Do what? What..." Trance demanded as her companion grasped her arm and prepared to wheel away.
Anasazi growled low in his throat, thrusting her forward. "I do not believe he is open-palmed in friendship..."
"Oh, no." She uttered again, loudly, as a ball of flame encircled a sapling only inches away.
"By the gods, RUN!"
"You *always* have to interrupt...!" Swallowing his frustration and shaking her grip off, Ares wheeled on his long-ago partner as the prey raced away, crashing through the flora. Stiffening, he locked gazes with the approaching Commonwealth captain. "And HIM. Can't I shake him off in any reincarnation?"
Hunt smiled humorlessly. "You were about to char my friends. Ares, this has lasted long enough."
"If you hadn't shown back up at such an inopportune moment, your friends could have provided dinner and entertainment. I suppose you'll have to suffice."
The woman sighed, crossing her arms. "He had no idea you were here. By the gods...you have to place yourself at the crux of every single event..."
"I am a GOD!"
"You're an idiot!" Backing away, Gabrielle pressed a hand to her forehead, closing her eyes.
"I believe that title fell to junior, didn't it?" With a final glare, he vanished.
She sighed, turning back to her companion. "Problem unsolved."
*
"Gemini!" Hissing, Tyr Anasazi gripped his crewmates arm, pulling her behind the rock face they had stumbled upon after brief moments of running.
"Oh!" She sank onto a nearby rock, and he eased to sit before her. "Tyr, why didn't we stay and fight? what about Dylan?"
"Dylan is no doubt capable of dealing with his redoubtable friends with no assistance from the less suicidal. And that, Gemini, answers your earlier question. Nietzscheans are not suicidal. Nor could I allow the harm of one in my care."
Her smile burgeoned, warm fingers gripping his arms, moving up and down them almost charmingly. "You DO care!"
His hand brushed her face, grip firm but carefully unbruising, dark eyes somewhat puzzled, somewhat brooding. "There are times when I believe you only a child...your behavioral patterns, your overabundant thirst for life. Then, there are times when I question even that assumption. There are races, people, who seem to...reverse the process, growing younger as the years pass, back-stepping through the biological process, often combining the traits of both elder and younger. What you are..."
"Tyr." She caught his large fist in both her pale lavender ones, eyes determined and absurdly concentrated, lips curving. "What I am...is me. Just me, Trance. Its not all that important, really, not now. I promise I won't turn into a cute little baby in your arms..."
"You are not a child." He shifted position, taking her weight onto him and off the precarious stone ledge.
"Not exactly..."
"You are not a child." He elucidated by nodding downward, where his hands had found a pleasant, if unconventional resting place on her...quite shapely...hips.
"Oh." The syllable was short, sincerely embarrassed, as a blush...rather purple, actually...stole up her face. "*Oh*."
"Trance..." Running fingers across his face in resigned frustration, the Nietzschean frowned at his companion, finally lifting her to firm ground. "Return to the village. Go...NOW!"
Faint laughter from above startled them both. Ares peered down, shaking his head. "Really, I admire your efforts. You Nietzscheans and...purple sparkly things...can run. Oh, I don't suppose killing you now would be any fun at all. You might, however, be interested in killing one another before you reach the village. You see, this area of Daragus will soon discover a very harsh winter season. Bad roads, hypothermia, all those good things. Enjoy the journey."
"Can he do that?" Trance glanced up, lips parted.
"I'm not certain. However..." Anasazi swallowed the rest of his theory as a gust of icy wind sifted in. "It appears so."
"Oh, no."
"Will you never find a new expression for your displeasure?!" The Nietzschean all but roared, then quieted, pushing her down the slope before him. "Later. We find shelter first. No doubt his magic will wear away soon enough, or your eternal captain will intercede."
*
"I'll just put this..." Trance held up a small camera device. "...here. And the voice receiver right below it, both should be invisible in the leaves, they really are pretty in hue..."
"Still. Now." Bending to clap a hand over her mouth, he tensed, ears picking up the distant footsteps. "It would seem that your friends are returning. Listen, or leave?"
"Well..." She fought against his hand, curling downward for a glance. "That might be a difficult choice. If we leave, we lose the information, but if we stay, well, there are two possibilities, that we might not be caught, or that we might be caught..."
"Well choose, and swiftly."
"I'm not sure."
"You, not certain of an outcome?"
"Shh..." She hissed, flattening against the limb as the travelers came within view.
"Very well, we stay." Stilling, he listened carefully. Quietly, and then with more animation, the voices rose.
"I left it here."
"Your queen clearly hasn't returned. That leads me to suspect that she has no intention of doing so."
"Oh, she'll return. Always does." The first voice darkened to amused annoyance.
"And I have no doubt her company will be familiar."
*
"It isn't a personal battle." Watching as her companion prepared for landing, Gabrielle clenched hands on her knees. "I've long since stopped feeling anything for Ares beyond pity. This isn't personal. He has a foot in the Nietzschean system...their warrior icon, so to speak. Your Tyr might recognize his relevance. He pretends to be their patron."
"But?"
"Any hope of retrieving Xena lies on Earth. Earth, unfortunately, lies in Nietzschean hands. He will ultimately try to destroy them."
"To free Earth, and that's a bad thing?"
"It isn't the only thing. Herc...Dylan...you know the Nietzscheans. You live with one. They don't like being duped. Eventually, they'll find that Ares isn't a god...or at least but a pale shadow of one. He's worthless to them in the end. They don't like being duped by inferiors, and they will counterstrike. I don't pretend to know how, or where, or when...but they will strike, en masse, and the only thing more dangerous than Nietzscheans squabbling amongst themselves is Nietzscheans fighting together."
He considered, before finally reaching for the communications button. "Tyr, Trance, you've just had a change of plans."
*
"Tyr, Trance, you've just had a change of plans."
The message cut into the silence with alacrity, and the recipients froze just as quickly. The conversation below stopped swiftly.
"Oh, NO." Uttered Trance faintly, tail swinging aside to grasp the transceiver and shake it off forcefully.
"Too late." The Nietzschean muttered, extending an arm to grasp her waist and plunging them both down through the foliage until they hit the ground with faint jars.
"The camera and..." Trance turned to go back.
"Forget them. We've already been discovered."
"Yes, you have. And no, I didn't dismiss you."
Blinking at the sudden burst of light, both stared at the man striding towards them. Trance tapped on her companions foot urgently. "Tyr, he was just *back there*."
"I am perfectly well aware of that." The other swallowed his own discomfited surprise, pushing her back and moving ahead, voice raised. "Who are you?"
"The name is Ares. You and your perky little fiend were spying on me. Oh, and I do mean *fiend*. Reminds me of my queen. A real..."
"We are vastly more interested in who you are and what you are than the details of your questionable love life."
"Well, that is an entire mythos in itself." The man shrugged.
"Ares." Nearby shrubbery gave way, and a familiar voice drifted in.
"Gabrielle!" Gemini clapped her hands together, nervous excitement riddling her tones. "Okay, he can pop in and out of existence..."
"From one place to another." The darkly clad man corrected.
"Either way, it is a questionable talent. Who are you both?"
"That's a long story." Gabrielle reached their side, muscles tense, shoulders squared.
"And one that I don't have time to waste on with your mortals." Ares raised his hands, smile faintly derisive. "Sorry, queenie, but I have no time to waste."
"Ares, don't do it." Gabrielle's tones were soft, pleading, but laced with steel.
"Do what? What..." Trance demanded as her companion grasped her arm and prepared to wheel away.
Anasazi growled low in his throat, thrusting her forward. "I do not believe he is open-palmed in friendship..."
"Oh, no." She uttered again, loudly, as a ball of flame encircled a sapling only inches away.
"By the gods, RUN!"
"You *always* have to interrupt...!" Swallowing his frustration and shaking her grip off, Ares wheeled on his long-ago partner as the prey raced away, crashing through the flora. Stiffening, he locked gazes with the approaching Commonwealth captain. "And HIM. Can't I shake him off in any reincarnation?"
Hunt smiled humorlessly. "You were about to char my friends. Ares, this has lasted long enough."
"If you hadn't shown back up at such an inopportune moment, your friends could have provided dinner and entertainment. I suppose you'll have to suffice."
The woman sighed, crossing her arms. "He had no idea you were here. By the gods...you have to place yourself at the crux of every single event..."
"I am a GOD!"
"You're an idiot!" Backing away, Gabrielle pressed a hand to her forehead, closing her eyes.
"I believe that title fell to junior, didn't it?" With a final glare, he vanished.
She sighed, turning back to her companion. "Problem unsolved."
*
"Gemini!" Hissing, Tyr Anasazi gripped his crewmates arm, pulling her behind the rock face they had stumbled upon after brief moments of running.
"Oh!" She sank onto a nearby rock, and he eased to sit before her. "Tyr, why didn't we stay and fight? what about Dylan?"
"Dylan is no doubt capable of dealing with his redoubtable friends with no assistance from the less suicidal. And that, Gemini, answers your earlier question. Nietzscheans are not suicidal. Nor could I allow the harm of one in my care."
Her smile burgeoned, warm fingers gripping his arms, moving up and down them almost charmingly. "You DO care!"
His hand brushed her face, grip firm but carefully unbruising, dark eyes somewhat puzzled, somewhat brooding. "There are times when I believe you only a child...your behavioral patterns, your overabundant thirst for life. Then, there are times when I question even that assumption. There are races, people, who seem to...reverse the process, growing younger as the years pass, back-stepping through the biological process, often combining the traits of both elder and younger. What you are..."
"Tyr." She caught his large fist in both her pale lavender ones, eyes determined and absurdly concentrated, lips curving. "What I am...is me. Just me, Trance. Its not all that important, really, not now. I promise I won't turn into a cute little baby in your arms..."
"You are not a child." He shifted position, taking her weight onto him and off the precarious stone ledge.
"Not exactly..."
"You are not a child." He elucidated by nodding downward, where his hands had found a pleasant, if unconventional resting place on her...quite shapely...hips.
"Oh." The syllable was short, sincerely embarrassed, as a blush...rather purple, actually...stole up her face. "*Oh*."
"Trance..." Running fingers across his face in resigned frustration, the Nietzschean frowned at his companion, finally lifting her to firm ground. "Return to the village. Go...NOW!"
Faint laughter from above startled them both. Ares peered down, shaking his head. "Really, I admire your efforts. You Nietzscheans and...purple sparkly things...can run. Oh, I don't suppose killing you now would be any fun at all. You might, however, be interested in killing one another before you reach the village. You see, this area of Daragus will soon discover a very harsh winter season. Bad roads, hypothermia, all those good things. Enjoy the journey."
"Can he do that?" Trance glanced up, lips parted.
"I'm not certain. However..." Anasazi swallowed the rest of his theory as a gust of icy wind sifted in. "It appears so."
"Oh, no."
"Will you never find a new expression for your displeasure?!" The Nietzschean all but roared, then quieted, pushing her down the slope before him. "Later. We find shelter first. No doubt his magic will wear away soon enough, or your eternal captain will intercede."
*