ACT 1
FADE IN
Inside One of Ares Temples, Ares appears with Gabrielle in his arms, who elbows him in the stomach and frees herself.
Gabrielle:
Get the hell off of me! What in Tartarus did you think you were doing?
Ares:
(slightly amused) Don't go getting sweaty palmed on me, Blondie. I was just making sure you didn't get away while in transit. Being dropped on the trip, without godly powers, is not conducive to your health, and I'd hate to lose such a well-trained fighter. What was it my sister, Athena, used to say before Xena sliced her open? Ah yes, 'Waste not. Want not.'
Ares throws his cloak on his throne, and then swiftly moves to a mirror on a nearby wall. The image of the young Warrior Woman from the roadside appears in the looking glass, finishing off the last of the Ten Soldiers by shoving his lifeless body off her blade with a self-satisfied nod of her head. She then mounts her mare and rides away.
Gabrielle:
(tauntingly) Didn't waste much time, did you, Ares? So, tell me; is this girl supposed to be Xena's replacement? I saw her fight; she's gifted. Is she in love with you or is she merely gullible? Or is it both?
Ares fights to control his temper before he turns Gabrielle into a pile of ash.
Ares:
(in rage) It is only out of respect for Xena that I don't kill you where you stand! No one will EVER replace Xena, EVER!!!
Gabrielle sees the pain on Ares face and, sighing, realizes that she went too far. She wraps her arms around herself, and breaths deeply to calm the rampaging emotions inside of her.
Gabrielle:
I'm sorry. Maybe I went a little too far. I know you l…
Ares:
(cutting her off) Well, as I said before, our times with Xena have yet to end. She will be reborn and we will both be part of her future lifetimes. However, a discussion of metaphysics is not the reason I brought you here. We need to talk. I… I need… I need your… help.
Gabrielle:
Why would I ever help you?
Ares:
(all business) To save your precious Elijians as well as thousands of other, what you once called, 'innocent people' who will be slaughtered if you don't.
Gabrielle:
You're going to slay thousands of innocent people if I don't help you? Why you unmitigated Bast…
Ares:
I don't plan to harm one hair on their peace-lovin' heads, but your friend, the Archangel Michael, does. As much as those fools deserve their fate for turning against the Olympian order that had stood since the dawn of time for the vague, feel-good, promises of Eli's flavor-of-the-month god, I still need your help to stop Michael from succeeding.
Gabrielle:
(disbelievingly) You're insane. Why would Michael want to harm the Elijians?
Ares:
Because he's backing a new horse now, a group who call themselves Christians. They came out of Judea. Their leader was a man with much the same teachings as Eli, named Jesus Christ. The Romans crucified him around the time you and Xena first met. In the beginning, their teachings were about peace and love and all that mushy garbage you and Eli held to. Their numbers were small and for over 2 decades they lived in hiding, fearing Roman persecution. However, in the past 5 years, and partially due to Livia's sudden departure from the world stage, they have gained some acceptance in high-ranking Roman families, grown in power, and now control several cities all over the known world. Those who refuse to convert are tortured and executed, whether they be Jews, Elijians, or followers of any specific pantheon of gods makes no difference. If you refuse this Jesus Christ's teachings, you are marked for doth, and their numbers are growing fast.
Gabrielle:
I don't get it. Why would Michael do this? He helped found the Elijians. I mean, these people sound like barbarians. The God of Love…
Ares:
The God of Love wants to be the only god around. The Elijians refused to hunt down the remaining Olympians and the other pantheons in cold blood, so he chose a group who would be all too happy to do so. The Elijians just want peace. The Christians want power. Therefore, Michael has given several Christian soldiers, called 'Knights of the Faith', the power to kill gods. They even took a swipe at my annoying half brother, Hercules recently.
Gabrielle:
(nervously) Is he…
Ares:
(obviously disappointed) No, he got away, just barely. He's in a hospital, outside of Athens, recovering from the burns he sustained in the incident. These Christians have a thing about burning people alive. Too bad they worship this new god. (fantasizing) What I could do with an army as ruthless and fanatically devoted as that…
Suddenly, as if a switch has been thrown, Ares' face goes from one of daydream-contentment to profound sadness. In his fantasy, Xena had lead that ruthless and fanatically devoted army, and now he has been snapped out of his revelry by the memory that she is dead and never coming back again as his beloved Warrior Princess.
Gabrielle:
(grudgingly) I will need to confirm all this with Hercules. I don't trust you.
Ares:
(recovering, though glad Gabrielle hadn't notice his lapse) Understood. I'll take you to the hospital then.
Again, before Gabrielle can protest, he grabs her, this time less tightly as he figures she won't fight him knowing the danger in being dropped, and they flash away.
CUT TO:
A Small Hospital outside of Athens. Cots line the walls will the sick and dying. On one of the cots in the far corner, lay a heavily bandaged Hercules. He has definitely seen better days but, never one to complain, he takes the pain in stride. A young nurse, Uridia, approaches and smiles.
Uridia:
Sir, I'm happy to say 2 visitors have just arrived to see you. You don't get enough visitors. A nice man like you should be surrounded by loved ones! Anyway, the man says he's your brother and the woman calls herself Gabrielle.
Hercules:
(slightly bemused) Uridia, I asked you to please call me Hercules. 'Sir' is completely too formal. (chuckling softly) I'll get a swelled head.
Uridia:
Alright, Hercules. I will be leaving in ten minutes. A new volunteer will be coming by soon to help with your bathing and the redressing of your wounds. I'll send your brother and your friend right in. They can stay until the new girl arrives. I'll see you in the morning! Enjoy your visit!
Uridia smiles again as she waves goodbye and exits the ward. Hercules returns the gesture as best he can, before painfully seating himself upright and making himself as presentable as possible. He doesn't want his visitors to panic or mother hen him when they see the extent of his burns. Gabrielle enters the ward, and rushes to Hercules' bedside, taking his hand in hers and giving it an affectionate squeeze. She can see the damage the fire caused and she is afraid if she hugs him, she will only cause him more pain. She is appalled at the severity of the burns and is heartily grateful that he is half god. She has seen too many battle burns not to know that a full mortal wouldn't have survived.
Gabrielle:
Hercules! I am SO glad to see you alive! From what I heard…
Hercules:
Gabrielle, It's good to see you! How are you? Where's Iphicles? My nurse said he was with you.
Gabrielle:
(confused) Iphicles? Is he here too?
Hercules:
Yes, Uridia, my nurse, said that you and my brother were here to see me.
Ares strolls onto the ward and over to Hercules' bedside.
Ares:
Wrong brother, Little Brother.
Hercules:
(aggressively) Ares. What do you want? And what are you doing with Gabrielle?
Ares:
Relax. I'm not going to hurt Gabrielle. She's too valuable to me. I brought her here so you could tell her what, and whom, happened to you.
Hercules, fighting immense pain, tries to get out of bed. He knows it is futile, but he has to try for Gabrielle's sake.
Hercules:
(threateningly) Ares, leave her alone!
Gabrielle sighs and gently pushes Hercules back down on the bed.
Gabrielle:
Hercules, don't worry about me. I'm fine. I just need to know what happened to you? Who did this to you?
Hercules:
They call themselves Christians, and they want to erase all history before them, especially the memory of the Olympian gods. As the son of Zeus, I became their target. I heard that there was a warlord attacking a village near Corinth and demanding tribute. I knew the Christians controlled Corinth, so I hid Iolaus in another town and went alone. At his age, the intensity of fighting a warlord's entire army could kill him. Several Knights of the Faith jumped me along the roadside. They used some sort of poison blow darts to knock me out, and things get a little fuzzy after that. I remember being bound to a pyre and then the fire being lit. I was burning and then, all of a sudden, Aphrodite was there. She grabbed me and I was suddenly here. (humbled) She saved my life at the risk of her own.
Ares:
Don't read too much into it; Dite has always been a real sap for family.
Gabrielle:
(smirking) If I remember correctly, when you were mortal, you risked your own life to save Aphrodite from Caligula.
Ares:
For purely selfish reasons. Did you want to live in a world where that psycho Roman Loser was a god?
Gabrielle:
Right.
Hercules:
Look, what's going on? Why are you two here together? Where's Xena?
Gabrielle:
(confused) You mean Aphrodite didn't tell you?
Hercules:
I haven't seen Aphrodite since she dropped me off here two weeks ago.
Ares:
And she locked herself in her rooms on Olympus just around that time. She refuses to come out, much less go to Earth for any reason. If things weren't so bad, I'd go in after her, and drag her out kicking and screaming if I had to, but I can't afford to take the time to deal with her histrionics right now.
Gabrielle:
(sighing) It's worse than I thought.
Ares:
(seeing his opening) Now do you see why we must ally ourselves Gabrielle? You and Xena fought for a better world together. I may not agree with what you two believed a better world would look like, but I can respect the effort to instill your will upon it. That is the heart of every warrior. Myself. Hercules. You. Every warrior! Now all our worlds are crumbling. We must reach some kind of agreement, some kind of compromise, or we are ALL damned!
Hercules:
(getting nervous and tired of being ignored) Will somebody please tell me where Xena is?!
Gabrielle and Ares look at each other, both trying to figure out how to break the news. For the first time in his life, Ares looks on Hercules with compassion. They both loved Xena in their own way.
Ares:
(gently) Xena died in Japa a little over two months ago.
Suddenly there is a loud crash and an animalistic wail of pain behind them. They spin around and find Eve kneeling on the floor, a tray, an empty metal basin, and some towels beside her.
Eve:
MOTHER!!!
Gabrielle rushes over to Eve and envelopes her in a big hug in an attempt to comfort her.
Gabrielle:
Eve? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Chin!
Eve:
(fighting her tears) I was, but I came back to Greece when I heard what was happening to the followers of Eli. Now I'm volunteering at the hospital till I figure out what more I can do to help them. Is it true? Is Mother really…
Gabrielle:
Yes.
Eve:
I can't believe she's gone! I barely got to know her!
Eve renews her tears, and Ares sighs with exasperation.
Ares:
She was mortal; get over it Eve! We have no time for this!
Gabrielle:
(pissed off) Ares!
Ares:
(equally pissed off) Listen, you, I've lost both my parents, three sisters, a brother, a nephew, and two uncles here! My remaining sister is a basket case and my half-brother is an invalid! And let's not forget that the only woman I have EVER loved in THOUSANDS of years just threw her life away for no good reason and without even a word goodbye! So, if I can suck it up, so can Eve! Now snap out of it, and focus on the situation at hand!
Hercules:
Ares, can't you for ONCE show a little compassion?
Ares:
I've already been way too compassionate today! There is too much at stake to take time off to grieve, or we'll be losing a heck of a lot more very soon! Now, I was going through Athena's library when Xena restored my godhood, and I found a recipe that will heal Hercules. It has a tiny amount of ambrosia broth in it, but one tablespoon should heal his burns without taking away his precious mortality. As much as I'd love to see you suffer, Brother, I can't afford that luxury right now. So here.
Ares makes a spoon and a tiny vial of faintly orange liquid appear in the palm of his hand and hands it to Hercules.
Hercules:
(skeptically) What? I'm just supposed to swallow this stuff willingly, no questions asked? I don't think so Ares.
Ares:
(past his breaking point) Fine! You know what? Don't drink it. Come on Gabrielle; we have a world to save! Eve, feel free to join us if you plan to fight for your faith!
Ares turns and stalks out of the ward, too upset even to flash himself out like he usually does. Gabrielle stands in indecision looking from Hercules to Ares, then back to Hercules.
Gabrielle:
I'm sorry Hercules, but I've got to go. As crazy as it sounds, this time Ares is on the side of the greater good. Innocent people are being slaughtered and I can't just let that happen. I have to fight it. I will come to see you again just as soon as I can; I promise, but right now I have to go.
Without another word, Gabrielle squeezed Hercules' hand and rushes off to catch up with Ares. Eve watches her go, but makes no move to follow. She begins picking her bathing materials off the floor as if she never missed a beat, but it is obvious she is fighting an internal struggle. Hercules watches her intently before making a decision.
Hercules:
You want to go too, don't you?
Eve:
(trying to sound confident about her decision) My place is here, helping those who are hurt. I am the Messenger of Eli, regardless of Michael's change of heart, and it's my duty to live the way of peace. Besides, I've done too much evil in my life to ever take up arms again.
Hercules takes a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say. As Eve is Xena's daughter, he feels responsible for her, and he knows that if she doesn't go out and fight for what is right she'll deeply regret it later on in life. Still, he has great respect for the followers of Eli and he doesn't want to send Eve, their messenger, down a path that can only lead to the antithesis of all they believed in, violence and warfare.
Hercules:
You know, your mother used to say that peace is worth fighting for.
Eve:
(smiling at the mention of her mother) It is written that Gabrielle said that very same thing, right before Mother accosted Ares with the dagger of Helios and became known as the Defender of the Faith.
Hercules:
(introspectively) Well… Maybe they were both right.
Making his decision, Hercules pours the potion Ares gave him into the spoon, swallows it, and waits. The change is almost instantaneous; his burns begin to heal of their own accord and in less than thirty seconds, he doesn't have a scratch on him. Feeling his strength returning, he flexes his somewhat stiff muscles.
Hercules:
(completely shocked) Ares came through for me. I guess miracles do happen.
Eve smiles at the joke, before rushing to her patient's bedside to keep him from getting up.
Eve:
You don't have any clothes. They were all too damaged in the fire, remember? Just wait where you are. I'll see what I can scrounge up.
Hercules blushes sheepishly at what he nearly did, and stays right where he is. Eve rushes out of the ward to find him something to wear, and moments later returns with simple peasant garb, giving Hercules an apologetic smile. She then closes the curtain around Hercules' bed to give him some privacy, and waits outside the curtain for him to finish dressing.
CUT TO:
The Road to the Amazon Village. Ares and Gabrielle appear in a flash of blue light, and after pulling away from Ares, who had been gripping her forearm, Gabrielle looks around.
Gabrielle:
(confused) What are we doing here?
Ares:
This is one of the reasons I need your help. There are always going to be Amazons like Varia who will follow me, but you are a well-respected Amazon Queen. You can make them listen to you, and after what happened when the Furies drove me nuts and then with the Romans, they are going to need some convincing to foll… to work with me.
Gabrielle:
Why do you need Amazon help? Why not just use your own forces?
Ares:
Haven't you ever wondered why there are no Amazon tribes between the Mediterranean and Central Africa? It's because long ago the people of that region developed a culture of harsh control of women, all women. In some areas a woman can be put to death for making too much noise with her sandals when she walks. As I told you before, the Christians came out of Judea, and where they are nowhere near as bad in their treatment of women, they still enforce strict codes of conduct and dress on women in occupied territories. They justify it all by claiming it's for a woman's protection from unscrupulous men. A woman entering a Christian city under heavy guard, like Corinth, would have her possessions and her animal searched before hand. However, she herself would not be searched for the sake of modesty. Since Christian women are taught to be docile, they'd never think of carrying weapons under their robes. Amazon warriors dressed as Christian women, however, wouldn't have that inhibition. Once they're inside and the signal is given, they can incapacitate the guards and open the gates. My forces will be waiting outside, ready to attack. For some time now, I've had spies, including some of my priestesses, pretend to convert in order to learn Christian custom. I can pull them out of the city and bring them here to teach the Amazons. For some unfathomable reason, despite the way they are treated, women seem to flock to this religion, so your warriors should have no problem getting into the city, especially since the Christians will begin celebrating their most holy week in three days. Christians from all over Greece are already arriving daily. Add a few unarmed men to act as escorts for your sisters, since Christian women aren't allowed to travel by themselves, and we have the perfect Trojan… mares.
Gabrielle frowns at the joke, but has to conclude that the plan is sound. Still, she is uneasy about dragging her Amazon sisters into one of Ares plans after all he has done to them.
Gabrielle:
Alright. I'll go and bring your plan before the Council of Queens. If the Council votes unanimously to assist in this operation, you'll have your decoys. However, you, personally, must remain outside Amazon lands. Considering your recent actions against the Amazon Sisterhood, your presence would only prejudice the Council against the plan.
Ares:
Oh, I definitely agree. Besides, I have other things to take care of in preparation for the upcoming battle. Feel free to call if you need me.
Ares flashes away before Gabrielle can say another word. Sighing, she continues down the short stretch of road to the village.
CUT TO:
Ares Temple outside Athens. Hercules and Eve enter the throne room of Ares temple and begrudgingly lay down two dinars in the offering dish. To refuse to pay tribute would start a fight, and while Hercules doesn't particularly care about taking out a few of his half-brother's remaining goons, he also doesn't want to upset Eve's sensibilities with gratuitous violence.
Hercules:
Ares!
Ares hears him, ofcourse, but wants to make him wait. Eve apparently doesn't understand the family ritual going on and tries herself.
Eve:
(shouting) Ares, come out! We need to talk!
Ares appears, looking at Eve with a mildly annoyed expression.
Ares:
I heard him the first time. (teasingly) So, what do I owe this pleasure, hm?
Hercules:
(eating crow) We have a common enemy.
Ares:
(still playing the game) Oh I couldn't agree more, Brother.
Hercules:
(beginning to lose patience) Look, this isn't easy for me. Everything I've ever learned about you over the years says that you can't be trusted… but there is a greater principle here and I am offering to work with you now in order to secure the safety of Greece and the rights of the people to believe in whatever they choose.
Ares:
See, that wasn't so hard. (turning his attention to Eve) Now, Eve, do you have anything you want to tell me?
Eve:
(coldly, almost Livia-like) Plenty, but since we have to pretend to be allies right now, I'll settle for doing my telling to Gabrielle. Where is she?
Ares:
(amused) I really have to wonder how I never HEARD the resemblance between you and your mother all those years I was grooming you?
Eve:
(bitterly) You were probably too busy SCREWING me to have noticed.
Ares:
(matter-of-factly) That is a definite possibility. The Gods know you never came close to comparing with Xena in THAT department.
Eve fights back the anger she had thought she'd resolved two years ago, and Hercules, seeing her distress, decides to move the conversation in a more productive direction.
Hercules:
Alright! Can we get back to the situation at hand? Now, where is Gabrielle?
Ares:
(as if he had lost his car keys) Gabrielle? Gabrielle? Now where did I put Gabrielle?
Suddenly Ares hears a small scraping sound coming from the other room, and immediately knows exactly what it is. Hercules and Eve, with their mortal ears, heard nothing and believe that Ares is just attempting to irritate them with the distracted expression on his face and the fact that he keeps trying to peer over Hercules' shoulder into the next room.
Hercules:
Ares, Where is Gabrielle?!
Ares:
(distractedly) Oh, she's visiting the Amazons, getting them in on the plan, making arrangements, yadda, yadda, yadda. Excuse me for a moment.
Ares pushes past Eve and Hercules, who are looking at one another in confusion, and stalks into the next room on a mission.
Hercules:
Ares, what in Tartarus is going on?
Ares ignores them as he continues down a corridor, only stopping when he runs into Hedda. Ares corners her, and we can see that there is barely suppressed fury written in his face.
Ares:
(sarcastically) Did you have fun this morning, Precious?
Hedda:
(trying to sound nonchalant) Whatever do you mean, Daddy?
Ares looks like he is going to explode, but that is nothing compared to the sheer shock on Eve and Hercules' faces.
Hercules and Eve:
(in unison) DADDY?!!!
Hedda smirks slightly at their surprise.
FADE OUT
END OF ACT 1
READ ACT TWO