XENA - ANOTHER SEASON 5 - Episode 11

OF CATS AND DEMONS

by Andreas Hloupy (andreas.hloupy@siemens.at)

Follow the whole TV-like series on http://members.tripod.com/XENA_Another_Season5/index.html

Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without the author's consent

EXT. Grain Field - DAY

A grain field on a seemingly endless plain near a big river, pyramids rise in the background. The crop stands thick and at least 3 feet high. Farm workers, only wearing loincloths, work hard on the irrigation. A women carries water from man to man.

Suddenly high-pitched shouts can be heard. A group of men and women, wearing green robes and carrying lit torches, storm into the field, attacking the workers. Most of them run, but some, are too slow and are struck down by the attackers.

When no worker is left, the fanatics set fire to the grain, throwing the torches into the field. Within seconds the whole field burns, while the attackers move a safe distance away.

One of them is caught in the flames and cries for help, but nobody turns back for him.

A man (CAT CARRIER NUMBER ONE), also in green robes, with a black cat in his arms, stands close by, watching the burning field with great satisfaction.

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EXT. GRAIN FIELD - SUNDOWN

The fire has burned down, only smoke is left. In the background there is more smoke rising from other burned fields, while the sun sets behind the pyramids.

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EXT. WOOD - DAY

GABRIELLE lies on the ground, concentrating intently, slowly advancing while trying to avoid any sound. She carefully moves aside loose wood, then freezes when a snake crosses her path.

She wears boots, a brown, knee-length skirt with extra parts in front and on the back that reach down to her feet, short rust-red top and brown leather straps around both lower arms. Her chobos, two wooden fighting sticks with leather gripping, are held together by a loop of rope and carried on her back.

Finally she can move on, closing in on a rock, approximately 3 feet high, with a little bowl resting on top. Only a inches separate her from the rock when a high-pitched sound can be heard – a Chakram is closing in.

The Chakram hits the bowl, topping it over and the water in it pours over Gabrielle. She turns around on her back and lies flat on the ground. A shadow moves in front of her face.

Gabrielle sits up and looks at her friend. XENA actually had her eyes covered the whole time with a cotton bandage she now takes off. She wears dark-blue leather trousers and knee high black leather boots. Over a hard black leather top she wears an open, armless coat made of large patches of dark-blue leather and light gray cotton parts, stitched together and padded. She has a sword on her back and the Chakram is back on her belt.

Xena helps Gabrielle on her feet. The bard starts to remove dirt and leafs out of her clothes and her wet hair.

Suddenly, Xena pulls out her Chakram and throws it in one fluid motion. It cuts through an arm thick branch and returns to Xena’s hand after hitting a few more trees. The branch, a few inches thick, doesn’t fall immediately, still connected to the tree by a bit.

The last hold of the branch breaks, it falls to the ground and a short, painful shout can be heard.

Xena and Gabrielle walk over to the fallen branch where a man gets up after pushing it aside. The MESSENGER is scarcely dressed and unarmed. He is carrying a scroll.

The Messenger hands Xena the scroll.

Xena grabs the scroll and takes a quick look at the writing. Gabrielle peaks over her shoulder but gets disappointed when Xena puts the scroll down before she can see anything.

Gabrielle gives Xena a questioning look.

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INT. Mark Antony’s PALACE - DAY

MARK ANTONY, dressed with a leather loincloth and having the rest of his body oiled, stands in the middle of a round fighting ring, his eyes closed. The voice of a CENTURION can be heard from the side.

Before Mark Antony can answer, a SLAVE also dressed in a loincloth and with a well-oiled body, attacks him from behind, trying to get a grip on him. While Mark Antony talks, the fight goes on, with Mark Antony dominating the whole time.

Mark Antony throws the slave across the ring and waits for his next charge.

Mark Antony is distracted for a moment, enough time for the slave to get him into a tight grip. With one fluid motion Mark Antony frees himself, moves behind the slave and strangles him. While Mark Antony and the Centurion continue to talk, the slave is slowly suffocated, not able to free himself.

With one last jerk Mark Antony breaks the neck of the slave. He releases his grip and lets his body fall down.

The Centurion can be heard moving away while two slaves enter the ring and carry the dead one away. Mark Antony follows them with his eyes while a new slave fighter, dressed similar to the first, climbs into the ring, looking scared.

Mark Antony stares at the new fighter for a few seconds, than motions him to leave. The slave is visibly relieved and hurries away.

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Title

In a time of ancient gods ... warlords ... and kings ...

... a land in turmoil cried out for a hero!

 

She was XENA ...

... a mighty princess, forged in the heat of battle.

 

The power ...

The passion ...

The danger ...

Her courage will change the world!

 

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EXT. The void - Darkness

There is total darkness … and total silence … except for two voices.

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EXT. Port of Alexandria - Day

The port looks very busy, many people are working, passing by or simply watching. A lot of Egyptian soldiers can be seen. XENA leaves a ship followed by GABRIELLE.

Xena walks up to an Egyptian soldier and shows him Cleopatra’s scroll. Gabrielle stops next to her.

The soldier stares at Xena (actually past her) and before she can end her speech he turns and runs away in a hurry. Xena and Gabrielle look at each other.

Gabrielle and Xena turn around to face MARK ANTONY, in armor and on a horse, escorted by a large group of Roman soldiers. The area around the two groups empties in a matter of seconds.

Mark Antony gets down from the horse and steps towards Xena. His soldiers stay close.

Mark Antony gestures his soldiers and they form a ring around Xena and Gabrielle while Mark Antony himself moves back a few steps.

Everybody turns to see CLEOPATRA, on a huge, open sedan, carried by a dozen slaves. A large force of Egyptian soldiers guard her. By now the port is empty except for these three groups (Xena/Gabrielle, Mark Antony, Cleopatra) facing each other.

Mark Antony doesn’t look too pleased, but he gestures his soldiers to fall back, which they do quickly.

Xena’s look darkens, than she turns and walks towards the ship she just left.

Xena stops.

Gabrielle looks at Xena.

Xena looks less than convinced, but finally she walks back towards Cleopatra, passing Mark Antony.

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INT. Dungeon - Day

XENA, GABRIELLE, MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA are standing in front of a cell door, a few guards waiting in the background. Inside the cell one man is chained to the wall (it’s CAT CARRIER NUMBER ONE). His green robe looks shabby, he was obviously been handled quite roughly.

Cleopatra gestures towards the cell, but before Mark Antony can react, Xena steps forward.

Xena enters the cell and steps in front of the prisoner. She crosses her arms and let her look go over his body. Then, with one lightning fast move, she does her deadly pinch.

Xena waits, while the fanatic shows not the slightest sign of submission. Xena’s look changes to surprise, than anger. Only moments before the prisoner would die she releases the blood flow. Without another word she turns and storms out of the cell.

Xena and Mark Antony exchange looks, they seem to have the same idea.

Xena walks over to Cleopatra.

Xena gives Gabrielle her best "evil" look.

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ExT. Tempel of Sekhmet - Day

The Temple of Sekhmet is basically a circle of stone pillars, placed in the middle of a mountain valley. There is almost no vegetation of any kind, the ground is made of sand. The sun burns down heavily. There is a group of at least 20 green robed fanatics in the circle, one stands near a slightly larger pillar, with the symbol of the sun carved into it. He carries a cat (it’s the same cat and he is CAT CARRIER NUMBER TWO).

A group of new recruits waits outside the circle and walks in one by one. They step in front of the cat carrier, who seems to look at them for a moment, then two other cultists dress them in green robes and lead them away.

Finally, the last recruit steps forward. It’s a woman with a simple white cotton dress. It’s XENA.

She steps in front of the cat carrier and looks straight into his face. His look is blank, he just seem to stare past Xena. Just then a flash of light blinds Xena, who has to close her eyes for a moment.

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ExT. Savanah - Day

When XENA opens her eyes again, she stands on a plane with scarce vegetation. The sun burns down and she has her normal armor on, but no weapons. Before she can be too surprised, a loud roar can be heard.

Xena turns and sees a big lion running towards her, almost as if coming right out of the sun. Xena prepares for the impact but she is thrown back and the lion wrestles her to the ground. Then he stands proudly over his victim and lets out another big roar.

Another blinding light lets Xena close her eyes.

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ExT. Tempel of Sekhmet - Day

Back in the temple, Xena is still standing there as before, in her white dress, her eyes still closed.

When she opens them, her look is as blank as the one of the cat carrier before. She doesn’t react when two cultist dress her in a green robe and lead her away.

Again we are left with a very satisfied looking cat carrier.

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EXT. Grain Field - DAY

Another grain field on a plain near the Nil. Apart from a few workers there is a group of Egyptian soldiers close by.

Suddenly high-pitched shouts can be heard, including a very familiar war cry. A group of green robed men and women, with XENA right in the middle, again carrying lit torches, run towards the field.

The soldiers immediately cut off the fanatics and attack. While they are able to hold their ground against the other cultists, Xena strikes them down one by one, until no soldier is left. The workers, in the mean time, have fled.

As before, with the resistance broken, the green robes throw their torches into the field and fires start immediately. Xena throws her torch too and seems to enjoy it.

A man (CAT CARRIER NUMBER TWO again), of course in green robes, with the usual black cat in his arms, stands close by, observing everything.

While the fanatics watch the fire for a few moments, Mark Antony’s soldiers appear in their back. The COMMANDER pulls out a little parchment, looks at it and then he lets his look wander across the green robed figures. When he sees Xena he takes another look at the parchment, which actually shows a drawing of the warrior princess. Satisfied he puts the paper away.

The soldier’s charge while the green robes turn around surprised. The black cat immediately jumps down from the arms of her carrier and races away, while the fanatics try to defend themselves as best as they can, but they have no chance against the soldiers.

Xena has also turned around, battle ready. But nobody attacks her and she just stands there for a few seconds while everybody around is fighting.

Then, finally, Xena lets out her war cry and jumps right into a group of Roman soldiers. The first one raises his sword, recognizes her and lowers his weapon again. Xena takes the sword out of the hand of the surprised soldier and hits him across the face. Than she attacks the next one, surprising him too.

The commander watches smiling, as his troops slaughter the fanatics, but his smile vanishes when he sees Xena fighting his men. He pulls out his sword and storms towards the growing number of men trying to capture Xena without hurting her.

By now, a dozen soldiers surround Xena, but they avoid the raging warrior princess. She acts like a cornered animal, attacking in blind fury anything that comes close.

While the black cat watches from some distance, four soldiers bring forward a net. They manage to throw it over Xena and then all the remaining soldiers charge, wrestling her down.

Quietly, a green robed figure appears (CAT CARRIER NUMBER THREE), takes the cat into his arms and walks away.

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INT. Dungeon CELL - NIGHT

The cell is a large room with stonewalls, a low stone ceiling, a wooden door and a single metal barred window. It is surprisingly clean, approximately 20 wooden beds stand along the wall. A dozen green robed prisoners are here, XENA among them. They all wear heavy chains on their arms and legs.

While most of the others sleep, Xena is standing at the window and uses a little stone to draw a sun next to it on the wall. Her look is as blank as it was during her initiation.

Without warning the door opens and light floods into the room. Guards throw a green robed fanatic into the cell and then take a look around.

Two guards storm into the cell and take Xena between them. She offers no resistance while she is dragged out of the cell. The other fanatics don’t react at all.

When Xena is gone the last guard takes another look, then he turns away and closes the cell door behind him. It’s dark again. Another cultist picks up the stone Xena has dropped and continues her drawing. On the other side of the window a drawing of a cat is already finished.

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INT. Interrogation room – NIGHT

The interrogation room has a big wooden table in the middle, with ropes on all four corners and traces of fresh blood all over it. On the wall a large selection of torturing tools is displayed. In all four corners there are metal braziers which give the room some light.

XENA is brought in by the guards and the COMMANDER, who gestures the guards to leave after they have placed Xena next to the table.

After they have left, the Commander closes the door and positions himself in front of it.

MARK ANTONY, GABRIELLE and CLEOPATRA come out of the shadows and form a half circle in front of the warrior princess. Xena doesn’t react.

Cleopatra lays an arm around Gabrielle and leads her a few steps away while Mark Antony moves in front of Xena.

After a few moments of silence, he hits Xena hard across the face, than into her stomach and finally across the face again.

Xena doesn’t show any sign of emotion or pain, even as blood runs over her face.

Mark Antony steps back and motions the commander to take care of Xena. The commander steps forward, grabs Xena’s arm and drags her to the door. When they move past Gabrielle she steps forward and grabs Xena’s shoulder, giving her a loving, caring look.

Xena stares into her face without a sign of emotion or even recognition. When the commander finally leaves with Xena, Gabrielle is left behind looking puzzled and disturbed.

Mark Antony offers Cleopatra his arm and leads her out of the cell. Gabrielle stays behind for a moment, thinking. Then she follows, closing the door behind her.

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INT. Dungeon CELL - NIGHT

Everything is silent in the cell, all the prisoners seem to be asleep. After a few moments the cell door opens and a green robed figure is thrown into the cell by two guards.

Suddenly, XENA moves out of the shadows next to the door right in front of the guards. Her chains are gone.

The guards try to close the door but Xena steps forward and blocks their effort. Next they draw their weapons, but Xena isn’t impressed.

While the fanatics all stand up in the cell and form a group close to the door, the sounds of Xena fighting the guards can be heard. Then, Xena comes back into the cell, dragging the two guards behind her on the ground. They are both unconscious.

After she placed them in one corner of the cell she leads the group of green robed ones out.

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EXT. Rocky Plain - DAWN

The escaped prisoners, including XENA, march in a row towards some mountains. They look badly beaten and weak and no sound can be heard. They wander along like a group of Zombies.

When the first signs of morning appear there is suddenly some stirring in the group. Their heads go up and turn into the direction of the rising sun. The whole group seems to gain strength and confidence, they form a closer group and some start to speak, but to no one special and the words seem to have no meaning. They all start to walk faster. Suddenly Xena lets out her war cry.

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EXT. Rocky Plain - DAWN

A hooded figure walks alone, following the traces of the escaped prisoners. When the figure hears Xena’s war cry in the distance the head goes up and the figure listens for a moment.

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ExT. Tempel of Sekhmet - Day

The Temple of Sekhmet is again filled with a group of at least 20 green robed fanatics, the CAT CARRIER NUMBER THREE stands near the slightly larger pillar with the symbol of the sun, of course carrying the cat.

The fanatics bring forward some torches and raise them towards the sky.

Suddenly all raised torches are lit. All the fanatics let out a triumphant shout, then they move out of the circle, running away from the temple in a few smaller groups to burn a few more crop fields.

The cat carrier number three is left behind, alone, but satisfied. After a few moments of silence he turns to leave the temple, but then the cat rises his head and seems to listen while the carrier stops.

Then he turns again, moving towards the other end of the temple, where rocky hills come very close to the stone circle. He stops just inside the temple, next to a pillar and waits for a few moments. Sounds of people coming closer can be heard.

Suddenly, the group of prison escapees, including XENA, appears between some rocks, walking towards the temple. When they are in front of the cat carrier they throw themselves down and touch the ground with their foreheads.

The fanatics scatter around the temple, resting. But nobody moves into the shadows, everybody keep sits or lies around in the burning sun. Xena sits down with her back to a rock.

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ExT. Tempel of Sekhmet - Day

XENA still sits at the rock as before, she has her eyes closed and slowly sways back and forth.

The rest of the temple is quite busy, there are now dozens of fanatics, sitting or standing in little groups together or simply laying around. Some of them prepare food, others talk or make torches for their next raid. CAT CARRIER NUMBER THREE stands close to one pillar and looks at a map, the cat sitting at his feet.

Suddenly Xena opens her eyes.

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EXT. Rocky Hills - DAWN

A hooded figure is slowly crawling up a rocky surface towards the top of the hill, trying to avoid all sound. She moves very cautiously and stops periodically to listen.

When she reaches the edge she carefully takes a peek, observing the Temple of Sekhmet on the other side of the hill. Then she moves away a few feet and rolls onto her back. Blinded by the sun, she puts her arm in front of her face.

Suddenly, a shadow moves in front of her and the hooded figure drops her arm. XENA, who has moved up behind the intruder and is the source of the shadow, grabs the hooded figure, drags her up and pushes her down the rocky hillside, away from the Temple. The intruder rolls down the hill and is not able to stop the fall until she reached the bottom of the hill. When she finally lies still, the hooded figure is unable to stand up right away.

Xena, in the meantime, has followed her down the hill and grabs her again. This time the figure rolls away, leaving the hood behind in Xena’s arms. The intruder is GABRIELLE and she has also lost her chobos with the hood.

Gabrielle can barely avoid a kick by Xena and scrambles back to her feet.

Xena starts to kick and hit Gabrielle furiously, the bard can only block or avoid part of the onslaught and gets hit quite hard.

Xena gets Gabrielle in a tight grip, bending both arms backwards.

Xena thinks about it for a moment.

Xena releases Gabrielle and steps back a little bit. Gabrielle rubs her arms and tests her face for blood.

Xena turns and walks towards the temple.

Gabrielle grabs a fist large stone from the ground, runs towards Xena and than jumps into her back, hitting her hard with the stone on the head. Both women fall forward and lay still for a moment.

Gabrielle jumps to her feet.

Xena jumps to her feet too, blood running down her forehead. Gabrielle raises the stone again but Xena just tackles her and drags her to the ground. Sitting on top of her Xena grabs Gabrielle’s throat and starts to suffocate her while the bard tries to pry Xena’s hands open.

Xena’s expression changes for a moment, as if a faint memory had appeared.

Gabrielle closes her eyes.

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ExT. Savanah - Day

When GABRIELLE opens her eyes again, she stands on a plane with scarce vegetation. The sun burns down and she wears her normal outfit.

Only a few feet away XENA is standing, wearing her usual armor but still no weapons. She is looking in another direction. She watches a big lion that stands only a few yards away from her, looking at them.

Gabrielle steps next to Xena and lays her hand on the warrior’s shoulder.

Suddenly, the lion lets out a huge roar, than he runs towards Xena. With a big jump he tackles the warrior princess and brings her down. He stands above her and raises his head for another roar when Gabrielle jumps in from the side. She tackles the beast and entangled together they role over, away from Xena.

Xena jumps up and immediately attacks the lion, before he can harm Gabrielle. She tries to get his head into a tight grip while Gabrielle rolls away and stands up, a little shaken.

With one powerful move the lion shakes off Xena and then runs away a few yards just to turn again and watch his opponents.

Gabrielle helps Xena stand up. Both women are visibly hurt and weakened.

Xena raises her right hand, making a fist and than straightening two fingers, like she does for applying her pinch.

That very moment the lion starts his next attack. He runs towards Xena again. Xena pushes Gabrielle aside.

Xena has just time enough to nod before the lions tackles her again. This time, instead of trying to block the move, Xena let herself fall back. With a little help from her and his own momentum the lion rolls over the warrior princess and lands on his back a few feet behind Xena.

Xena and the lion scramble to their feet and face each other, only a few feet of distance between them. Suddenly, Gabrielle tackles the lion again from the side and rolls him over. But this time the lion can get Gabrielle beneath him and put both front paws on her shoulders to push her down. He opens his mouth and shows his array of impressive teeth.

Suddenly, Xena jumps on the lion's back and grabs him with her left hand while her right arm is raised high above her head, two fingers straight. With one quick motion she pushes her two fingers into the left eye of the lion.

Xena and the lion roll away from Gabrielle, who lies still for a moment and then slowly stands up.

Xena is lying beneath the lion, both don’t move. Gabrielle rolls the lion away from the body of her friend and then knees down beside her, taking Xena’s head into her arms.

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EXT. Rocky Hills - DAWN

Suddenly, Xena opens her eyes. She is still sitting on top of Gabrielle as before their little adventure on Sekhmet’s plane, her hands on the bard's throat. Gabrielle’s eyes are still closed. She seems unconscious.

Then, a few moments later, Gabrielle opens her eyes too. She looks into Xena’s face, still unsure if her friend is her old self again.

Xena’s expression changes into a smiling, caring one.

They stand up, both smiling.

Xena and Gabrielle stand there for a moment, silent, thinking.

Gabrielle hugs Xena, than she turns and walks away. After a few yards she turns to wave.

Both smile and then Gabrielle turns again and continues on her way. Xena watches her for a few moments, then she turns and walks back towards the temple.

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ExT. Tempel of Sekhmet - Day

Everything looks like before, the sun burns down on dozens of busy cultists. Their leader (CAT CARRIER NUMBER THREE) sits close to one of the pillars, eating. The cat seems to sleep in his lap. XENA has positioned herself close, only a few feet behind.

Suddenly, the sound of trumpets can be heard and all the cultist raise their heads, except for Xena, who continues to stare at the cat.

It becomes evident who made the sound when Mark Antony’s soldiers appear between the rocks, advancing in a tight formation right towards the temple. Two smaller groups of Egyptian soldiers run past them to the left and right to encircle the temple. MARK ANTONY, riding, follows the first line of the Roman soldiers, two men with trumpets and GABRIELLE right by his side.

When the cultist see the soldiers, they drop everything they are doing, arm themselves with anything that’s close and prepare themselves for the fight, letting out high-pitched war cries. The cat carrier does the same, but the cat clearly has other plans.

While the first fanatics exchange blows with the charging Romans the cat jumps down from its carrier and runs towards the other side of the temple. But Xena reacts immediately, throwing a blanket over the fleeing animal and grabbing both. With the wrapped cat under her arm she slowly steps away from the fight that has started at the edge of the temple.

The fanatics fall quickly at the hand of the Romans while the Egyptian soldiers close the ring around the temple and handle everyone that tries to escape their way. Xena, in the meantime, has reached the other end of the temple and watches the struggle of the fanatics. Mark Antony and Gabrielle, now both on foot, join her a few moments later.

Mark Antony is right this time, his soldiers actually try to take prisoners, just knocking the fanatics unconscious or taking away their weapons. While Mark Antony was talking, most of the cultists are already captured.

Xena now has opened the blanket and the cat’s head is peeking out. The cat looks innocent, helpless and scared.

The soldiers have by now handled the situation, most of the fanatics are captured, with the rest dead. The COMMANDER steps to the talking group and addresses Mark Antony.

The Commander leaves to join his men again.

Xena, still with the cat in her arm, has turned her back towards Gabrielle and Mark Antony. She looks surprised and when the cat jumps down from her arm she doesn’t move to prevent it. The cat runs towards a figure that has appeared next to one of the stone pillars, directly in front of the sun. The cat rubs herself on the leg of the person that now becomes visible.

It’s SEKHMET, the lion headed goddess herself. She has the body of a warrior woman, very much like Xena, but she has the head of a proud female lion. Mark Antony, Gabrielle and Xena all stare at the Egyptian legend.

Before anyone can react, a blinding light is emitted out of Sekhmet’s eyes and hits Xena, throwing her down.

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ExT. Savanah - Day

When XENA opens her eyes after the hit she finds herself on Sekhmet’s plain again. MARK ANTONY and GABRIELLE stand nearby. Xena and Mark Antony wear their respective armor while Gabrielle wears her usual attire - again nobody has any weapons. A few yards away from the group SEKHMET is standing, watching them.

Xena slowly scrambles to her feet, with the help of Gabrielle.

Again a blinding light comes out of Sekhmet’s eyes, this time much stronger than before. It hits Gabrielle and throws her through the air. She falls to the ground unconscious. Xena runs towards her body and knees down beside her.

Another burst of light and Mark Antony flies through the air like Gabrielle before him. He drops to the ground but scrambles to his knees moments later, weak but still alive.

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ExT. Tempel of Sekhmet - Day

The Romans have surrounded the temple and stare in disbelief at what they see. A fire fills the area between the pillars, MARK ANTONY, XENA, GABRIELLE and a lion can be seen standing in the flames, untouched.

One soldier tries to enter the temple, but has to turn back from the very real flames.

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ExT. Savanah - Day

XENA still knees besides the unconscious GABRIELLE, MARK ANTONY, also on his knees, is only a few yards away. SEKHMET slowly advances towards the group.

Mark Antony, Xena and even Sekhmet turn their head in surprise. Another figure has appeared, close to Gabrielle and Xena. It is BASTET, which has the body of a women, dressed in a light white dress, but the head of a cat.

Another ray of flaming light leaves her eyes and hits Mark Antony, throwing him to the ground again, this times unconscious. Bastet steps in front of Sekhmet while Xena stands up and slowly walks towards those two.

Suddenly, Xena storms forward and tackles the lion headed goddess from the side. Both fall to the ground, but Sekhmet jumps up immediately and drags Xena up with her, holding her throat in a tight grip with only one hand.

The hand on Xena’s throat suddenly starts to burn and the skin and flesh of Xena burns, too. Xena, in obvious pain, lets out a silent cry, grabbing the hand with her hands, burning them also.

Bastet has come from behind and now lays her hands over Sekhmet’s eyes. Suddenly the plain falls into total darkness. Sekhmet’s cries out and tries to grab Bastet’s hands. Xena falls to the ground, finally unconscious.

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ExT. Tempel of Sekhmet - Day

The Roman soldiers still watch when suddenly the flames in the temple die down and only XENA, GABRIELLE and MARK ANTONY are left behind. All three of them stand where they have stood before and now open their eyes. The COMMANDER runs towards Mark Antony.

The Commander, confused and terrified, stares at Mark Antony for a moment, but than he turns and runs towards his men to move them away from this strange place.

Xena knees down for a moment and takes the black cat, rubbing itself at her legs, into her arms.

Mark Antony turns around and walks towards a soldier holding his horse.

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EXT. Port of Alexandria - Day

The port looks very busy again, but this time no soldiers are around. MARK ANTONY on a horse, CLEOPATRA on a sedan and XENA and GABRIELLE on foot form a little circle, surrounded by a few Egyptian guards and Roman soldiers. Cleopatra has the black cat in her arm.

Mark Antony and his men turn and move away from the group, towards his ship.

With this Cleopatra gives her carriers a sign and they lift the sedan and the queen, and her guards leave Gabrielle and Xena alone.

Xena turns and walks towards a ship, anchored close by, followed by Gabrielle.