The Trio, part 1
by Susan Owens (with help from Lori Bush)
Copyright 2000
Disclaimer I do not own Xena and company
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CHARACTERS:
Xena - Warrior Princess
Gabby - Xena's sidekick
Joxer - Wanna-be warrior
Jett - The assassin
Jace - The other brother
Judd - The Trio's warlord father
Rating: PG
Summary: Jett wants to protect his brothers from their father.
Author's notes: I hope you enjoy this.
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Chapter One
The three people sat around the campfire. It had been a long day. There had been trouble in the last town they had been to, but, as always, Xena and Gabby had taken care of it. Even with taking care of Eve, Xena could still fight, and she did.
One person sat staring at the fire. His thoughts were about that day. He was in there, ready to fight, but only got in the way. Both women had saved his life. What kind of a warrior was he? He should be protecting the women, not the other way around.
"Joxer."
"Huh?"
"Go get us some more wood."
"Yeah, sure, Xena. No problem. You can count on the Mighty Jox..."
"Joxer," said Gabby, "just get the wood."
"Right," Joxer replied as he walked towards the woods.
He did not hear anyone coming up behind him as he was gathering up the wood. Suddenly a hand covered his mouth and a familiar voice spoke.
"Don't make a sound, little brother. I don't want to have to hurt you. Now, do you promise not to yell out if I let go?"
Joxer nodded his head.
"Good. Now, I am going to let go. Remember your promise."
Slowly, the hand released him. Joxer turned around to see his brother Jett standing there.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in prison."
Jett looked at his younger twin and shook his head.
"I had to escape."
"Why Jett? Were you being mistreated?"
"It was all right, as prisons go. Father escaped, and I escaped to stop him."
Joxer looked confused. "Stop him from what?"
Jett placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Stop him from killing you."
Joxer was now even more surprised. "Kill me? But why?"
Jett looked around to make sure Xena was not there. "You met Jace again at that music festival, right?"
Joxer nodded his head.
Jett nodded back. "What did father tell us we should do if we ever met him again?"
Joxer shook his head. "I don't remember."
"Yes, you do. How could you forget? Father said we were not to ever mention his name in public again, and if we ever saw him again we were to kill him."
Joxer stared at Jett. "I can't kill him, Jett. Like you, he's my brother. I ignored him, but I couldn't kill him. I felt bad enough that he was really glad to see me, and I treated him like dirt."
"Well, Father found out about it, and he broke out of jail. He's on his way to kill you, and then Jace."
Joxer turned towards the campfire. "I'd better go tell Xena."
Jett grabbed him. "No, you and Jace are my brothers, and I will protect you. Now get on my horse and let's go find Jace."
"What about Xena and Gabby?"
As Jett listened he heard the sound of horses coming. He grabbed Joxer and pushed him up on his horse. He them jumped on and rode away at a fast gallop past the campsite. Xena and Gabby saw them ride by and jumped to their feet. They heard the horsemen coming and prepared to fight. The riders came into the camp. Swinging their weapons, the women fought the invaders. Swords were clashing against each other. Xena felled many men, and Gabrielle knocked quite a few off their horses.
"Enough! Lower your weapons."
The men did as they were told. The man who ordered them to stop rode up to Xena.
"My name is Judd the Terror. You are?"
Xena showed no fear as she stared at the man.
"Xena."
"Xena, huh? Well, I have no quarrel with you, woman. Even if you did take part in jailing my son Jett, he was the one stupid enough to get himself caught. Now, where is my son Joxer?"
Xena kept on staring at the man. "Why do you want to know?"
"That, wench, is none of your business. But if you must know, he disobeyed me and must be punished."
Gabby stepped forward. "I'm not going to let you hurt Joxer."
"Be quiet. I was not talking to you, little girl."
"Little girl! I'll show you who's a little girl..."
Gabby swung her staff and knocked Judd right off his horse. The man got up and started for the bard, but Xena jumped in front of her.
"Your son is not here. He and your other son rode away."
The man said nothing as he remounted his horse and rode off. Gabrielle stared at Xena. "Why didn't you stop him?"
Xena stared back at her friend. "Don't worry. Jett will protect his brother."
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The black stallion thundered through the land, carrying the two riders. Joxer was holding on for dear life , his armor clanging loud enough to wake the dead. Suddenly Jett brought the stallion to a stop. He turned around and looked at his brother.
"Hey bro, how about taking that stupid armor off? It's making too much noise."
Joxer stared at his brother. "How am I going to protect myself without my armor?"
Jett shook his head and laughed. "That useless armor won't protect you. It's a wonder you've survived as long as you have. Now take it off. Now!"
Joxer climbed down off the horse and slowly removed his armor. Jett threw some clothes to him.
"Here put these on."
Joxer picked up the outfit and noticed it looked like Jett's.
"I want you to look good. Now put it on."
Joxer walked into the bushes and changed his clothes. When he came out he was the spitting image of his brother. Jett smiled.
"Well, as long as no one gets close enough, they might think you are me. Come on, let's find Jace before Father does."
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Gabrielle stared at Xena. "What do you mean, Jett will protect him? He's a killer."
Xena was packing things up. "Gabrielle, Jett will not let anything happen to Joxer."
"How do you know?"
"Because Joxer is his brother and I know Jett cares a lot about him. Gabrielle, this is family business and we should stay out of it."
"Stay out of it? Xena, Joxer's father is going to kill him!"
"Gabrielle, Jett will protect him."
Gabrielle stared at Xena. "And if he doesn't ?"
"He will, Gabrielle. Have faith."
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Jett stopped his stallion in front of a small caravan.
"So this is where Jace is?"
Joxer nodded his head.
Jett dismounted his horse and walked towards the wagon.
"Are you coming?"
Joxer nodded his head and climbed down. As the two brothers approached, Jace's back was turned to them and he was practicing one of his dance steps.
"That won't protect you from Father once he catches up to you."
Jace turned around and saw both his brothers staring at him. They were dressed alike. He knew one of them was Jett, but at the moment he wasn't sure which one. They stood together blocking the doorway and there was no place to run.
Jace stared at his two brothers. He was frightened.
"What do chu want?"
Joxer approached Jace. "Jace, it's me, Joxer. Jett and I came to help you."
Jace kept on staring at his brothers. "Help me weeth what?"
Jett pushed Joxer aside and looked hard at the middle brother of the triplets. "Father escaped from prison. He's coming to kill you and Joxer."
Jace shook his head. "He can't steell want me dead. Dot was yeers ago."
Jett grabbed Jace and pulled him so he was looking him right in the eye. "What do you expect? You turned your back on the family, and disgraced Father."
Jace pulled away and yelled at Jett. "Why? Beecause I deed not want to be a warrior?! I deed not want to keell people. What ees so wrong in that?"
Jett ran his fingers through his hair to control his temper, which he was slowly losing.
"I am going to try and be calm about this. You are a son of a warrior It is our duty and honor to follow in his footsteps. Even in his own clumsy way, Joxer has followed in Father's footsteps, and so escaped the worst of his wrath. But you ruined all that by coming to that festival. You knew Joxer would never kill you. Now Father wants you both dead."
Jace walk over to the wall and stood there. "I follow de music. I had no idea Joxshur would be dere and eet's not my fault he deed not keell me. Let me ask chu someting, Jett. Would chu haf keelled me?"
Jett smiled evilly at Jace. "Count on it."
He then threw some clothes at Jace that were identical to those he and Joxer were wearing. "Put these on and meet me out front."
Jace stared at the clothes. "I am not wearing thees."
Jett suddenly lost his patience. He grabbed Jace and put a dagger at his throat. Joxer moved in. "Stay away Joxer. I don't want to hurt you." He then spoke to Jace.
"You listen to me, you liver-bellied creep. You put these on, or else. I don't need two brothers that look like me." He shoved Jace so hard that he landed on the floor. "Now get up and change, and take that stupid wig off."
He then walked outside. Joxer helped Jace to his feet. Jace was shaking as he slowly undressed and put the other clothes on. Joxer watched, knowing that Jett had been too rough. He went outside where Jett was standing by his horse.
"Don't you think you were a little bit hard on Jace?"
Jett just stood there before he answered. "I had to be, Joxer. Jace does not understand. I've got to get you two away from here before Father comes."
"Jett, why don't we just fight?"
"Because Jace won't, and you can't."
"That not true. I fight."
"Yeah right. I've seen you fight, Joxer. By the time I'm done, you will be fighting. I'm going to show you everything I know."
Jace stepped out. "I tole chu beefore and I weell tell chu again, I weell not fight."
"Then die, fool!" replied Jett, as he threw his dagger at Jace. Joxer's heart dropped as the dagger pinned Jace's shirt against the tree. He was glad that Jett only meant to scare him. If the eldest triplet had intended to kill his brother, he would be dead. The assassin walked over and removed his dagger. "You got a horse?"
Jace nodded his head. He was too frightened to say anything.
"Then get the horse and mount up. You can ride right?"
Joxer watch his brother get on his horse. "What about me?"
Jett turned to him. "You can ride Hades with me. He's strong enough to hold both of us. Now, mount up."
Joxer came towards Hades. The big black stallion snorted at him, making the warrior uneasy.
"Come on Jox, get on. We've got to get moving."
Joxer tried again, but Hades would not hold still. Finally, Jett got impatient and pulled his youngest brother up. "Let's go, Jace," he called as Hades started away. Jace followed on a chestnut gelding. The two horses galloped off at breakneck speed.
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Judd the Terror looked down at one of his men. "Well?"
The man looked back up at him. "Sir, they came this way. Two horses."
"Humm. That means Xena isn't with them. Wonder why she's not helping my son? No matter - by tonight he will be dead, along with his brothers."
"Sir," asked another of his men, "even Jett?"
Judd nodded his head. It pained him to have to kill Jett. But Jett was also disobeying him for helping Joxer and Jace.
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Gabrielle rode alongside of Xena. She was quiet. It made no sense to her why were they not helping Joxer.
Xena knew this was bothering her friend. "Gabrielle, try to understand. I know it looks like I deserted Joxer. But I know what I'm doing."
The bard smiled sadly at Xena. "I hope so."
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Jett bought Hades to a stop in front of a cave. Jace halted his horse, too.
"We will rest here tonight, and tomorrow I'll teach you morons how to fight. In the mean time, get some sleep. I'll take the first watch." Jett dismounted and waved the others into the opening.
Continue
by Susan Owens (with help from Lori Bush)
Copyright 2000
Disclaimer I do not own Xena and company
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHARACTERS:
Xena - Warrior Princess
Gabby - Xena's sidekick
Joxer - Wanna-be warrior
Jett - The assassin
Jace - The other brother
Judd - The Trio's warlord father
Rating: PG
Summary: Jett wants to protect his brothers from their father.
Author's notes: I hope you enjoy this.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter One
The three people sat around the campfire. It had been a long day. There had been trouble in the last town they had been to, but, as always, Xena and Gabby had taken care of it. Even with taking care of Eve, Xena could still fight, and she did.
One person sat staring at the fire. His thoughts were about that day. He was in there, ready to fight, but only got in the way. Both women had saved his life. What kind of a warrior was he? He should be protecting the women, not the other way around.
"Joxer."
"Huh?"
"Go get us some more wood."
"Yeah, sure, Xena. No problem. You can count on the Mighty Jox..."
"Joxer," said Gabby, "just get the wood."
"Right," Joxer replied as he walked towards the woods.
He did not hear anyone coming up behind him as he was gathering up the wood. Suddenly a hand covered his mouth and a familiar voice spoke.
"Don't make a sound, little brother. I don't want to have to hurt you. Now, do you promise not to yell out if I let go?"
Joxer nodded his head.
"Good. Now, I am going to let go. Remember your promise."
Slowly, the hand released him. Joxer turned around to see his brother Jett standing there.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in prison."
Jett looked at his younger twin and shook his head.
"I had to escape."
"Why Jett? Were you being mistreated?"
"It was all right, as prisons go. Father escaped, and I escaped to stop him."
Joxer looked confused. "Stop him from what?"
Jett placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Stop him from killing you."
Joxer was now even more surprised. "Kill me? But why?"
Jett looked around to make sure Xena was not there. "You met Jace again at that music festival, right?"
Joxer nodded his head.
Jett nodded back. "What did father tell us we should do if we ever met him again?"
Joxer shook his head. "I don't remember."
"Yes, you do. How could you forget? Father said we were not to ever mention his name in public again, and if we ever saw him again we were to kill him."
Joxer stared at Jett. "I can't kill him, Jett. Like you, he's my brother. I ignored him, but I couldn't kill him. I felt bad enough that he was really glad to see me, and I treated him like dirt."
"Well, Father found out about it, and he broke out of jail. He's on his way to kill you, and then Jace."
Joxer turned towards the campfire. "I'd better go tell Xena."
Jett grabbed him. "No, you and Jace are my brothers, and I will protect you. Now get on my horse and let's go find Jace."
"What about Xena and Gabby?"
As Jett listened he heard the sound of horses coming. He grabbed Joxer and pushed him up on his horse. He them jumped on and rode away at a fast gallop past the campsite. Xena and Gabby saw them ride by and jumped to their feet. They heard the horsemen coming and prepared to fight. The riders came into the camp. Swinging their weapons, the women fought the invaders. Swords were clashing against each other. Xena felled many men, and Gabrielle knocked quite a few off their horses.
"Enough! Lower your weapons."
The men did as they were told. The man who ordered them to stop rode up to Xena.
"My name is Judd the Terror. You are?"
Xena showed no fear as she stared at the man.
"Xena."
"Xena, huh? Well, I have no quarrel with you, woman. Even if you did take part in jailing my son Jett, he was the one stupid enough to get himself caught. Now, where is my son Joxer?"
Xena kept on staring at the man. "Why do you want to know?"
"That, wench, is none of your business. But if you must know, he disobeyed me and must be punished."
Gabby stepped forward. "I'm not going to let you hurt Joxer."
"Be quiet. I was not talking to you, little girl."
"Little girl! I'll show you who's a little girl..."
Gabby swung her staff and knocked Judd right off his horse. The man got up and started for the bard, but Xena jumped in front of her.
"Your son is not here. He and your other son rode away."
The man said nothing as he remounted his horse and rode off. Gabrielle stared at Xena. "Why didn't you stop him?"
Xena stared back at her friend. "Don't worry. Jett will protect his brother."
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The black stallion thundered through the land, carrying the two riders. Joxer was holding on for dear life , his armor clanging loud enough to wake the dead. Suddenly Jett brought the stallion to a stop. He turned around and looked at his brother.
"Hey bro, how about taking that stupid armor off? It's making too much noise."
Joxer stared at his brother. "How am I going to protect myself without my armor?"
Jett shook his head and laughed. "That useless armor won't protect you. It's a wonder you've survived as long as you have. Now take it off. Now!"
Joxer climbed down off the horse and slowly removed his armor. Jett threw some clothes to him.
"Here put these on."
Joxer picked up the outfit and noticed it looked like Jett's.
"I want you to look good. Now put it on."
Joxer walked into the bushes and changed his clothes. When he came out he was the spitting image of his brother. Jett smiled.
"Well, as long as no one gets close enough, they might think you are me. Come on, let's find Jace before Father does."
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Gabrielle stared at Xena. "What do you mean, Jett will protect him? He's a killer."
Xena was packing things up. "Gabrielle, Jett will not let anything happen to Joxer."
"How do you know?"
"Because Joxer is his brother and I know Jett cares a lot about him. Gabrielle, this is family business and we should stay out of it."
"Stay out of it? Xena, Joxer's father is going to kill him!"
"Gabrielle, Jett will protect him."
Gabrielle stared at Xena. "And if he doesn't ?"
"He will, Gabrielle. Have faith."
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Jett stopped his stallion in front of a small caravan.
"So this is where Jace is?"
Joxer nodded his head.
Jett dismounted his horse and walked towards the wagon.
"Are you coming?"
Joxer nodded his head and climbed down. As the two brothers approached, Jace's back was turned to them and he was practicing one of his dance steps.
"That won't protect you from Father once he catches up to you."
Jace turned around and saw both his brothers staring at him. They were dressed alike. He knew one of them was Jett, but at the moment he wasn't sure which one. They stood together blocking the doorway and there was no place to run.
Jace stared at his two brothers. He was frightened.
"What do chu want?"
Joxer approached Jace. "Jace, it's me, Joxer. Jett and I came to help you."
Jace kept on staring at his brothers. "Help me weeth what?"
Jett pushed Joxer aside and looked hard at the middle brother of the triplets. "Father escaped from prison. He's coming to kill you and Joxer."
Jace shook his head. "He can't steell want me dead. Dot was yeers ago."
Jett grabbed Jace and pulled him so he was looking him right in the eye. "What do you expect? You turned your back on the family, and disgraced Father."
Jace pulled away and yelled at Jett. "Why? Beecause I deed not want to be a warrior?! I deed not want to keell people. What ees so wrong in that?"
Jett ran his fingers through his hair to control his temper, which he was slowly losing.
"I am going to try and be calm about this. You are a son of a warrior It is our duty and honor to follow in his footsteps. Even in his own clumsy way, Joxer has followed in Father's footsteps, and so escaped the worst of his wrath. But you ruined all that by coming to that festival. You knew Joxer would never kill you. Now Father wants you both dead."
Jace walk over to the wall and stood there. "I follow de music. I had no idea Joxshur would be dere and eet's not my fault he deed not keell me. Let me ask chu someting, Jett. Would chu haf keelled me?"
Jett smiled evilly at Jace. "Count on it."
He then threw some clothes at Jace that were identical to those he and Joxer were wearing. "Put these on and meet me out front."
Jace stared at the clothes. "I am not wearing thees."
Jett suddenly lost his patience. He grabbed Jace and put a dagger at his throat. Joxer moved in. "Stay away Joxer. I don't want to hurt you." He then spoke to Jace.
"You listen to me, you liver-bellied creep. You put these on, or else. I don't need two brothers that look like me." He shoved Jace so hard that he landed on the floor. "Now get up and change, and take that stupid wig off."
He then walked outside. Joxer helped Jace to his feet. Jace was shaking as he slowly undressed and put the other clothes on. Joxer watched, knowing that Jett had been too rough. He went outside where Jett was standing by his horse.
"Don't you think you were a little bit hard on Jace?"
Jett just stood there before he answered. "I had to be, Joxer. Jace does not understand. I've got to get you two away from here before Father comes."
"Jett, why don't we just fight?"
"Because Jace won't, and you can't."
"That not true. I fight."
"Yeah right. I've seen you fight, Joxer. By the time I'm done, you will be fighting. I'm going to show you everything I know."
Jace stepped out. "I tole chu beefore and I weell tell chu again, I weell not fight."
"Then die, fool!" replied Jett, as he threw his dagger at Jace. Joxer's heart dropped as the dagger pinned Jace's shirt against the tree. He was glad that Jett only meant to scare him. If the eldest triplet had intended to kill his brother, he would be dead. The assassin walked over and removed his dagger. "You got a horse?"
Jace nodded his head. He was too frightened to say anything.
"Then get the horse and mount up. You can ride right?"
Joxer watch his brother get on his horse. "What about me?"
Jett turned to him. "You can ride Hades with me. He's strong enough to hold both of us. Now, mount up."
Joxer came towards Hades. The big black stallion snorted at him, making the warrior uneasy.
"Come on Jox, get on. We've got to get moving."
Joxer tried again, but Hades would not hold still. Finally, Jett got impatient and pulled his youngest brother up. "Let's go, Jace," he called as Hades started away. Jace followed on a chestnut gelding. The two horses galloped off at breakneck speed.
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Judd the Terror looked down at one of his men. "Well?"
The man looked back up at him. "Sir, they came this way. Two horses."
"Humm. That means Xena isn't with them. Wonder why she's not helping my son? No matter - by tonight he will be dead, along with his brothers."
"Sir," asked another of his men, "even Jett?"
Judd nodded his head. It pained him to have to kill Jett. But Jett was also disobeying him for helping Joxer and Jace.
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Gabrielle rode alongside of Xena. She was quiet. It made no sense to her why were they not helping Joxer.
Xena knew this was bothering her friend. "Gabrielle, try to understand. I know it looks like I deserted Joxer. But I know what I'm doing."
The bard smiled sadly at Xena. "I hope so."
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Jett bought Hades to a stop in front of a cave. Jace halted his horse, too.
"We will rest here tonight, and tomorrow I'll teach you morons how to fight. In the mean time, get some sleep. I'll take the first watch." Jett dismounted and waved the others into the opening.
Continue