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Champion's Cause

This disclaimer has been shelled by North Korea

Callisto waited for the right time to move. The right time came around three in the morning. Solan was being held in a tent on the south end of the camp. Knowing the location and agreeing on a rendezvous Callisto and Borias split up. Borias would sneak Solan free from the camp as Callisto would go for Iolaus. Callisto knew that getting Solan free would be a lot easier than freeing Iolaus.

Borias moved carefully toward the tent that held Solan. He was ready to see his son again. He quietly knocked the guard out and moved inside. His son was there asleep with a gag in his mouth. He gently removed the gag as the boy awoke. He was about to say father when Borias shushed him. They still had to escape. To make it easier he dragged the soldier inside stripped him of his clothes and tied him up on the pole. After some alterations to account for size difference, Solan was dressed as a soldier. They immediately proceeded to exit the camp and get away from Hercules.

8

Callisto snuck towards the tent of Hercules with the intent of rescuing Hercules. Then suddenly time stopped around her as Callisto looked in amazement of all the frozen soldiers. Suddenly Athena appeared beside her as she said, "It's amazing isn't it? A split second in time frozen like this. Makes one think."

Callisto turned her head at the goddess, "Athena, what do you want?"

Athena replied, "I want my chosen to act. It's not enough that you should free Iolaus. My city is dying Callisto."

"I want to get Iolaus out of here and leave. I'm done with fighting," Callisto stated.

Athena stared at the blonde woman before her, "You're not done, even if you weren't my chosen. You can't run from who you are. No one can, not even the gods."

Callisto replied with guilty eyes, "What I am is a murderer."

Athena shook her head, "No, you are a warrior; you've done some bad things yes, unspeakable things. But that's not you, not anymore. I can see into the heart of a chosen. I know Callisto, I know. Don't fear the truth, face it. The truth is that this is what you are good at. You have the power to stand up against the dark forces of the world. Xena told you once that all we can do is try to prevent others suffering as our victims have. Those were her words, were they not?"

Callisto nodded. Athena continued, "Victims are suffering Callisto, you are closer than anyone. Take him out."

Callisto replied, "He's your brother."

"He is not brother, not anymore," Scornfully stated the now angry Goddess of Wisdom and War.

Callisto decided not to push it as anger began to consume Athena's face.

Time resumed as Callisto headed towards Hercules tent. She thought about what Athena said. She was wrong, this was not her concern. All she wanted to do is rescue Solan and by done with fighting once again. But the words of Xena were powerful. Having been reminded of what Xena had said, her heart was now weighed down with struggle. Should she go ahead and fight this battle? Would this help in her redemption of herself? Could she ever earn forgiveness for her crimes?

She was outside Hercules tent. Iolaus was crucified. He had ropes tied around his wrist and legs. He was still alive and his legs weren't broke but Hercules had crucified him. Callisto was overcome with guilt. She knew it was her fault that he was put there. She had not intended this for him, she had hoped that Hercules wasn't so far gone that he would do this to his friend.

She began to pull him down, legs first and then arms. Iolaus was barely conscious. She said as she helped him to the ground, "Iolaus I'm so sorry." She felt a hand on her shoulder.

She turned her head. Hercules said, "Well Callisto, not what I would have expected, except of course the betrayal part." Callisto tried to get up to fight but a hard punch and she was unconscious. Hercules picked them both up and took them inside his tent.

8

Borias successfully made it outside of the camp with Solan. But where was Callisto? He waited for a while for her arrival, but it didn't take long to see something was wrong. Now he was faced with a difficult choice. Borias considered his options. He could try to save Callisto, but that would risk Solan, or he could leave her behind to save Solan. It won't be long before Hercules discovers that Solan is missing.

Borias decided that if Callisto had Solan and he, himself was captured then he would prefer it if Callisto left with Solan instead of trying to save him. Still he kicked himself for the decision he just made. He felt like he betrayed her, but he made this decision for the safety of his son. So Borias and Solan left, not traveling towards the Centaurs as Hercules would know to look there. But instead headed for Amazon Country for the time being.

8

Callisto awoke around five-thirty with a massive headache as she discovered that she was bound to a sturdy wooden pole. She cursed herself. A month out of action made her slow she thought. Hercules came in with a foul grin, "Xena fought you clear across the country before she could capture you, I needed one punch and then you were mine. So where is Borias and Solan?"

Callisto replied with an angry shout, "Borias has nothing to do with Solan."

Hercules smiled, "Really, I wondered who the father was and he ran with Xena at the proper time. So with these actions it is easy to deduce that he was the father. So where did he go? Centaur lands? I'll kill them all."

Callisto lied, "I don't know, we weren't going the same way after this. I was boarding a ship for Crete."

Hercules replied dismissively, "That's crap! You had a rendezvous. Then you had a plan. Tell me something Callisto. When you were in Chaos, why did Xena not come for me?" Callisto was taken aback by the question.

Callisto then stated, "Chaos pushed us each and every way. We were not able to. He gave us no choice."

Hercules' face grew red with anger, "I saw you both! You just passed me buy."

Callisto replied, "We were unable to do anything because of Chaos."

Hercules smacked her across the face, "Silence!"

Callisto spit out a tooth. Her reply was, "That's one of my nice chewing teeth."

Hercules grabbed her face shouting, "Silence damn you!"

Callisto stared at him hard. He may be Hercules but he was gonna hurt for this. Iolaus said, "Hercules, keep your hands off her." Hercules turned and punched Iolaus out. He walked away.

8

Day 3

Dawn rises over Athens as the horn sounds from north of the city. The army of Thebes was spotted approaching from that direction. Cleomones the leader of the Athens defense stares as the army of Thebes approaches. Cleomones rallies his army. He is not yet ready to surrender Athens; even as a catapult round lands dangerously close to him. His fight continues.