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The Secret of Chaos

The Disclaimer has been acquitted of murder by the jury in the Casey Anthony trial; it shall be released tomorrow….

8

Somewhere in the outskirts of Delphi in Northern Greece. An armed man stated, "Darius, Greece is much better than Persia. Safe in the fact there is no one trying to invade us."

Darius shot back, "Xetrenues… safe? In the middle of a civil war?"

Suddenly Xextrenues's head shot eastward, "I thought I heard something."

An old cabin rested in the treeline, and near it well darkened cavern beckoned them. Inquisitivly they surged forward, finally they spotted a dead body. Darius reached over and flipped the body to it's back, "I know him… but that's not possible."

Xetrenues replied, "Well… who is it?"

Darius was in shock, "That… that… is General Herici. Yet… the general is with Hercules. I saw him board the ship!"

Xetrenues grew suddenly fearful, "Uh… forget him, let's leave. Now!"

Darius looked around, "You know what… I think I'm with you."

They turned around to be face to face with 8 otherworldly beings. Each had something special about them. But the one that stepped up caught their direct interest. He bore a massive ball and chain. He stood 10 feet tall and stared down at Darius and Xetrenus. The cool voice was ice upon the soul, "I'm the of voice of the guardians of Chaos. We 8 are the guardians, who do you serve?"

Xetrenues bowed and said "Why, I serve you mighty master."

The eighth man let dropped a metal spiked ball that was connected to a metal chain that connected to a handle that he held in his right hand. The man who identified himself as "Voice" began to swing the Bolas in the air spinning it around above his head. Then suddenly with precision he struck caving in Xetrenues skull. Voice spoke "We don't need servants."

After that, they maintained their charge of guarding the body of Herici as they disappeared again, not to be seen until called for.

8

Selenta was overjoyed as she ran to greet general Herici. She had taken one of the leader's lives; the raid while costly had been effective. The enemy lines were in chaos as the loss of one of the greatest leaders of all Greece had been killed. Course taking advantage of the chaos, the catapults were immediately fired.

As the fireball flew toward the soldiers at Argos, Herici stated, "So, Selenta, must been pretty easy for you to make it back alive."

Selenta grinned at the little man, "My easy would be more than you can bear."

"Yea, about that."

Selenta turned her back to him walking towards Hercules. What she did not see was the eyes of Herici as they flashed purple for a single second.

8

Gabrielle was treating the injuries when Ares walked up behind her touching her back smoothly. Gabrielle instantly grew annoyed as she turned around to face him, "Because I am helping you doesn't mean you get to touch me."

Ares smiled, "So… this is your task?"

Gabrielle shot him a double take, "It's important, it needs to be done."

"A sideline task that keeps you out of way while Xena and Callisto fight the battle."

Gabrielle groaned, "Someone has to do it."

"And why not you, that way you're safe from harm, protected if you well, sheltered maybe," replied a smiling Ares.

Gabrielle didn't address his statement, but the words did hit her. Ares seeing that he couldn't push her further he got back down to business, "Gabrielle, we need to leave this battlefield and find out who is responsible for Aphrodite."

"How are we going to do that? Hercules is our enemy, and he is right here. I'm getting tired of you and Aphrodite making me offers and telling what to do."

Ares shot a double take, "Aphrodite?"

Gabrielle replied "Yes, and she is not the same Aphrodite either. She tried to get me to kill…. Someone."

Ares simply couldn't believe his godly ears, "Aphrodite? The goddess of love?"

Gabrielle replied, "Yes Ares. The one and only."

A sound was heard as Ares suddenly shoved Gabrielle several feet from himself. A catapult shot landed directly on Ares sending him into the ground.

Gabrielle ran to Ares with a genuine concern to see if he was alright. He said while seeing the look on her face, "No need to worry Gabrielle. I'm a God."

Ares was lying in part. The catapult shot hurt Ares. His limited powers meant that he felt pain now. What really bothered Ares was the idea that Aphrodite could somehow be behind this.

Meanwhile as the last catapult shot landed the Spartan main army finally arrived. Callisto strode out to greet King Kleomidas of Sparta as Xena maintained the front. Callisto extended her hand, "As commander of the Army of Argos let me be the first to say thank you and welcome to Argos."

Kleomidas scoffed rejecting her hand, "A woman? No wonder we are losing."

Callisto eyes flared, "You haven't been here! We chased Hercules from the field, not you! That's what a woman did."

Kleomidas snorted arrogantly, "But you didn't chase him you stupid bitch and we still have to fight him."

Callisto growled, "We had hoped to have help from the honorable Spartan army, but clearly if their king is not honorable so I must wonder about the Spartans."

Kleomidas sighed nonchalantly, "Whatever woman, I'm here to instruct you that I am taking command."

Callisto became further enraged, "What? What, gives you the right?"

Kleomidas took an empowered stance as he looked down upon the blonde woman, "I am king and I brought this coalition together. I got the Centaurs and all the city states to fight on our side. Step aside wretch."

Callisto's sword hand itched as she considered attacking him, but that would cause war between her army and the Spartan army. So she decided to say, "Let us discuss this with King Jason."

"Very well, I will respect the rights of kings and appeal to him, though I must wonder why he appointed a woman."

Within minutes all the leaders were summoned to the command center where king Jason was at. All the leaders of the army gathered including Callisto, Xena, Gabrielle, Cleomones, Phantes, Kaleipus who choose to be on the opposite side of the room of Phantes. Borias, Iolaus, as well as commanders from the smaller city states that were already present.

Xena did not speak as she chose to carefully observe the events. Kleomidas stated boldly, "Good King Jason, thank you for welcoming me. You have commanded admirably but I must say, I would love to put my experience to the test on this battlefield as I am the most able warrior here."

Iolaus spoke up immediately "Callisto is way more able and she has done remarkably!"

Kleomidas did not look directly at Iolaus as the king viewed the blonde human not important enough for eye contact, but he still replied, "This meeting is for important leaders. Who is your charge?"

Iolaus was silent. The king turned to him sneering "Leave." King Jason nodded as it was only supposed to be leaders here and he wanted to keep the peace.

Borias and Gabrielle were also forced to leave as well, however Xena and Cleomones stayed. Xena would not leave and Cleomones identified himself as the commander of the remnant of Athens. Kleomidas then said "I'm afraid Callisto and Xena are not fit to command. Xena once tried to conquer Greece and Callisto is nothing more than a stupid bandit."

Xena put her hand on Callisto's shoulder to prevent her from tearing him apart with her bare hands.

Cleomones spoke up, "Callisto has successfully chased Hercules off the battlefield and…"

Kleomidas interrupted, "As I pointed out earlier, she did not give chase. This war would be over now."

Jason replied with a solemn tone, "Callisto has done well. She is a good commander."

Kleomidas refused to back down, "Sparta has commanded every military engagement that it has ever been involved with. Like Troy for instance. Sparta has reputation, not to mention history on its side. So I say this, Sparta will not fight under command of another leader."

Jason turned his attention elsewhere in the room, "what do the Centaurs think?"

Kaleipus replied "Callisto has led us fine. We have done well in this battle, considering the size of Hercules' army."

Phantes however was still angry over the death of his father, "Callisto has failed! Under her reign the greatest centaur leader in our people's history, Tildas the Great has been assassinated! She should be removed! The Arcadian Centaurs will not fight under her command anymore!"

Callisto was furious. Her command was being stripped because of that pompous ass named Phantes, and the Spartan king.

Jason knew that he had to give in. He might hold off Hercules without the Spartans, however if the Arcadian Centaurs leave it would cripple the army. Jason relented as he said, "I'm sorry Callisto, you have done well. But the Spartan *Callisto stormed out before the sentence was finished* King Kleomidas will take command of the army."

King Kleomidas smiled, "Alright, commanders prepare your army tonight. We go after Hercules in two hours! We will end this war!"

Xena shouted suddenly, "Are you insane! You do that and they will kill you all! That is the stupidest idea I've heard!"

King Kleomidas coldly stated, "Xena, for speaking out against me, I hereby command your execution!"

King Jason spoke up, "No! I still retain overall command! I will not have Xena executed. She is a hero who has saved us today. I can't let you do that!"

Kaleipus said "I will leave this army is she is executed."

Phantes added, "If she dies we go home."

Cleomones also added, "I too will not fight in the army that condemns her to death."

King Kleomidas knew he could not win this battle without the centaurs so he nodded once, "very well. But I want her out of my army."

Kaleipus said "She would be a great help to us."

King Kleomidas grunted, "No. She will leave. I will not fight with that seditious woman. Oh, and Callisto, she stays, Gabrielle too. Her medical skills are too valuable. If they leave they will be considered deserters and will be fugitives to this army"

Xena walked up close to the king, standing face to face with him. Kleomidas was forced to back away from the cold glance of the warrior as he asked, "What are you doing?"

Xena replied "Looking into the eyes of the man who is signing the death warrants of the entire army."

"Leave!"

Kleomidas waited for a moment. Then he unsheathed his sword.

Jason extended his hand, "Xena please, we cannot fight Hercules and the Spartans."

Xena scoffed, "Fine." She left.

8

Xena was outside the tent as she saw Callisto red faced in rage. Xena asked "Callisto?"

Callisto replied "He is a damn moron! Asshole, arrogant son of a…"

"Callisto, it's alright. Take it easy."

Callisto shot a dark look at the dark haired warrior, "No Xena! I won't take it easy! I'd like to go back to the good old days where I would skin him alive!"

Xena grasped Callisto's shoulder, "I know how you feel."

Callisto replied "So what's going to happen?"

"King Kleomidas has ordered an attack in two hours."

Callisto groaned in angry frustration, "Is he insane! A night attack with troops who fought all day plus those that marched all day as well?"

"That's what I said. On top of that I've been ordered to leave this army!"

"Morons, so you and Gabrielle need company?"

Xena shook her head, "I can't take you or her. They will be considered fugitives."

Callisto replied exasperated "What?"

"Sure enough. I need you to watch Gabrielle, keep her away from the battle. They are going to lose. When that happens they will need you."

Callisto replied "Fine. I hope to see that pig die."

Xena replied "Don't worry about him, just concentrate on what you're going to do to keep Hercules from conquering Greece."

"And what's that?"

Xena had no words to answer that.

Even as they finished talking, preparations were already beginning for the attack on Hercules.