Agathon crouched behind a rock formation in the pre-dawn shadows just outside Theopolis. The light of dawn was coming more slowly than usual today. The sunlight was hindered by rain clouds that seemed to be gathering.
 
"Could this be more perfect, Xena?" he said to the warrior next to him. "If it's raining when we attack, it'll really throw 'em off guard."
 
"Not that we needed an advantage," Xena replied with a slight smile. "There shouldn't be much effort involved here."
 
"You're right," said Agathon. "After this, we'll tell Ares we need more of challenge. The sooner we show him what we're made of, the sooner we can both be off doin' our own thing. This 'co-commander' stuff is bogus."
 
Xena agreed. She definitely wished she were commanding on her own today. Agathon seemed to know what he was doing, and that made it difficult. If he were a complete imbecile, she could simply dismiss him, but since he wasn't, she would actually have to work with him.
 
She was aware of a distant, barely perceptible flash of lightning. She counted silently. Then came the soft, but unmistakable roll of thunder. Ten seconds, she thought to herself.
 
Agathon ran his hand along the edge of his sword. "I haven't done this for so long. I'm telling you, Xena, I can almost taste the blood."
 
"Stick to the plan we agreed on, Agathon," Xena warned. "We're not going to go in there and start slaughtering everybody."
 
"I'm not that crazy about our plan," he said, still fingering his sword.
 
"I've done this more often than you have," Xena replied. "Mass killing might be fun, but it's a big waste of time. You can't sell dead people as slaves, now can you?"
 
"I guess not," he answered, looking at the city with steely eyes. "Not unless you talk fast and prop 'em up real nice."
 
Xena gave Agathon a disgusted look, but he just continued gazing at Theopolis. There was another flash of lightning, followed by thunder. Xena observed that this time, they were only nine seconds apart. This is it, she thought. "Sorry, Zeus," muttered the Warrior Princess under her breath, "but my life is my own."
 

 

"It's about time you showed up. We're getting close to zero hour."
 
"Take it easy, Methodicus," David said. "It only started raining a little while ago."
 
"I just don't want to cut it too close," Methodicus replied. "We've only got one shot at this, you know."
 
David seemed a bit troubled -- lost in thought. "Yes, I know."
 
"The rain's getting harder already," Scott observed.
 
"Yeah, it doesn't take long for Zeus' temper to build once he's really PO'd," said the god. "And Xena disappointed him big time."
 
Gabrielle sighed and shook her head. With every moment that passed, it was getting more difficult for her to believe in Xena. After all, she thought, wasn't the coming storm further proof that Xena truly had betrayed everything she stood for?
 
"So what's the deal here?" Methodicus continued. "Do you guys have to be pretty close to this thing for it to grab you?"
 
"We'd better stay within about ten feet of the pod," said Scott. "And you and Gabrielle should stand plenty clear."
 
"Then let's get into position," Methodicus ordered. He had to speak more loudly now to be heard over the increasing volume of the rain and thunder. "I don't think we have much time. Remember, we only have about a sixty second window when the storm is directly over us. That's the only time that this'll work."
 
"OK, let's do it," Scott said. "I assume you can turn on the tether generator," he queried Methodicus.
 
"Believe me, if Aphrodite could turn it off ..." the god began, peering inside the pod.
 
"Dave," shouted Scott. "Come on over. Gabrielle, you should stay where you are."
 
David turned to Gabrielle and, taking her gently by the shoulders, kissed her softly.
 
"You're not leaving right now," Gabrielle said with a little smile.
 
"Then why does it feel like I am?" he said as he held her. Then, looking her in the eye again, he added, "You wait here, OK?"
 
The bard nodded. Even with rain dripping from her face and making her hair stick to her, David still thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. In fact, just now she seemed more beautiful than ever. He reluctantly turned away and walked over to where Methodicus and Scott stood.
 
"Alright, here we go!" yelled Methodicus. He activated the generator, then moved away from the pod. "Now all we do is wait for that magic moment."
 

 

"It's just about time, Agathon," Xena said. "Let's ready the men."
 
"Bithcin'," Agathon replied. He followed her back to where their small but bloodthirsty army waited for orders.
 
Neither Xena, nor Agathon, nor any of the soldiers seemed to find the rain, which was now beginning to come down in sheets, the least bit daunting. On the contrary, they saw it as an advantage. The lightning had gotten brighter and more menacing and the thunder was louder. Xena continued to count the difference between the two. She noted that it was down to five seconds now.
 
"Are you sure we can trust these men?" Xena asked Agathon.
 
"You keep saying that," Agathon complained. "You're getting on my nerves. They've got blood in their eyes, but they're sworn to absolute obedience to us. They swore that to Ares himself!"
 
"OK, OK," she acquiesced. She brushed a lock of rain-soaked hair out of her face. "Let's go." There was more lightning and thunder. Four seconds, she thought.
 
"You heard the babe, dudes!" Agathon shouted. "Let's do it!"
 
Wicked shouts of joy erupted from the ranks of warriors. With Xena and Agathon leading the pack, they thundered across the muddy ground toward Theopolis.
 
By the time the guards at the gates realised the city was under attack, there was no time to make preparations to "greet" the advancing legion. The heavy rain and the sounds of the storm had perfectly masked the army's approach until they were almost upon the city. It seemed as though the gods themselves were working to ensure their success in taking this place -- a place that, by its name, purported to be the very city of the gods.
 
In accordance with Xena's plan, twenty of the men were carrying a large battering ram. As a show of strength, they were to break down the city gates without warning, then once inside, they would disarm and hold anyone with a weapon while Xena and Agathon attempted to extract a surrender. It was quite a test of the soldiers' loyalty, expecting them to restrain themselves from shedding the blood of hundreds of defenseless civilians -- like putting candy in front of a child and expecting him to ignore it. War was not always a pleasant business.
 
Somewhat to Xena's surprise, the army complied with orders quite well. They apparently didn't take lightly an oath to the god of war. They easily broke through the gates and stood ready, awaiting further orders, though even in the pouring rain, Xena could tell they were drooling at the hope of a massacre.
 
She timed the difference between another lightning bolt and its accompanying thunder clap at two seconds. It's getting closer, she thought.
 
Xena began to shout in a voice strong enough to be clearly heard over the storm. "In the name of Ares, god of war, we claim this city! Surrender to us and your lives will be spared!" She could hear the frustrated grunts of her soldiers. "Who is your governor?" she demanded.
 
She could see a handsome, stocky figure approaching through the rain. He, too, seemed undaunted by the downpour.
 
When he was close enough to Xena and Agathon to see the whites of their eyes, he began speaking. "I am Tiberus, governor of Theopolis. By what right do you make these demands of us?"
 
"We've already told you," the warrior princess answered. "This city belongs to us now -- and to Ares." She paused, staring at him. "We can take it the easy way, or the hard way."
 
Tiberus leaned closer to her, squinting his eyes. "You're Xena, aren't you?" he said. Xena did not seem startled at being recognised. "We've heard stories that you had turned from the ways of conquest," Tiberus continued. "Some even said you were here recently -- making peace -- turning away Ares."
 
"Yeah, well, you know how rumours are," Xena retorted with no smile at all. "Now, Tiberus ... what's it going to be?"
 
Tiberus folded his arms. His face turned from curious to steadfast. "We will not surrender," he declared. His determined words were underscored by piercing lightning and thunder that were virtually simultaneous, signaling Xena that the storm was now directly over them.
 
"Not smart!" declared Agathon, drawing his sword and raising it high.
 
"Back off, Agathon!" ordered Xena. Still speaking to Agathon, she looked at Tiberus, an evil grin enveloping her face. "He's mine!"
 
"Cool, Xena," replied Agathon. "You know what to do." From his pack, he produced a sheepskin bag. "I'm ready," he said.
 
Xena recognised the bag. So did Tiberus. It was what warriors often referred to as a "trophy bag." In certain circles, it was traditional to bring back a head from among one's conquests as a memento -- usually the head of the commander of the opposing army, or in this case, the governor of the city.
 
She looked at the bag for a moment, then back at the governor. "He's right," she said, with no trace of compassion in her voice. "You'd do a lot better for yourself and your people to change your call."
 
"And what kind of life would we have as conquered people?" he asked rhetorically. "We've all talked of this before. We'd rather die than surrender."
 
"So be it," Xena said. She raised her sword high above Tiberus' head. The skies were dark from the storm. A flash of lightning illuminated the scene for an instant. One second later, by Xena's count, a crash of thunder added a further dash of suspense to the macabre still life. Tiberus shut his eyes and calmly prepared for a swift but painful passage into the Elyssian fields.
 
Xena's arms relaxed for a moment as they continued to hold up her sword. "Fool!" she said, making sure to sound as fierce as possible. "Are you sure about this?"
 
"Oh, for Zeus' sake, Xena!" cried Agathon. "Have you forgotten how to do this, or what?" He rushed her, and, taking her by surprise, managed to push her out of the way. His sword glinted in a burst of lightning as he hefted it into the air and aimed it sharply at Tiberus' neck. "This is how you deal with an uppity governor!" he announced triumphantly.
 

 

The torrential rain pounded the trees above the clearing, sending generous amounts of water down through the tangled foliage overhead. David, Scott, Methodicus, and Gabrielle simply waited. The storm was almost directly over them, and if Methodicus was right, there would shortly be about sixty seconds during which the travelers' machine could "grab" them and connect them once again to the time from whence they came. Now that they were all in position and the machine was on, one minute seemed like quite a comfortable window.
 
Both Scott and Methodicus were keeping their fingers crossed that the plan would work. David, however, seemed distant and increasingly agitated. Because of the darkness of the storm, he could barely see Gabrielle across the clearing.
 
"You alright, Dave?" Scott asked.
 
"Uh ... yeah, yeah, I'm ... fine," said David, his eyes still fixed on the shadowy figure of the bard. A sheet of lightning illuminated the clearing and for an instant, even from a distance, David could swear that he could see into Gabrielle's eyes. His own eyes widened. "No!" he suddenly shouted, and began bounding across the clearing toward her.
 
"Dave!" Scott called after him. "Dave, what are you doing?"
 
David continued to run toward the bard, splashing mud as he went.
 
As he neared Gabrielle, she stared at him with incredulous eyes. "David, aren't you supposed to stay over there?" she asked him worriedly when he was close enough to hear.
 
"Gabrielle, I can't," he answered, slightly out of breath. "This is crazy. I don't want to go back. This is my home now. This is where I belong -- here, with you."
 
Suddenly, Scott felt a jolt, then after a moment, the familiar tug of the artificial tether in his abdomen. He smiled broadly and looked toward Methodicus, giving him a thumbs up. Methodicus returned the gesture, then pointed toward David with a concerned expression.
 
"Dave!" Scott shouted. "It's working! You've got less than a minute! Get back over here!"
 
David seemed not to hear him at all. "You don't have to be alone, Gabrielle," he said. He reached for her and she put her hand against his. Their fingers intertwined. "Say you'll marry me. Tell me I can live the rest of my days here with you by my side."
 
More than anything she had ever wanted, Gabrielle wanted to throw her arms around him and welcome him home -- to tell him that she would, of course, marry him. She couldn't keep from imagining herself living without this pain, this lonliness. And so she knew that what she was about say would perhaps be the most difficult words she ever uttered.
 
"No, David," she said, clutching his hand tightly and slowly shaking her head. She just looked at him for a moment, trying to disguise how hard it was for her to push the words out. "We both know the way things have to be. You belong with your people, and I belong here -- with or without Xena."
 
David hung his head. Gabrielle let her staff fall and slipped her arms around his waist. They held each other close as the rain masked their tears.
 
"Look inside yourself," she said. "You know I'm right."
 
He sadly nodded as he ran his hand through her rain-soaked hair. "Yes, I know," he answered.
 
"I know, too," came a voice from behind him. He turned his head to see Methodicus pointing toward Scott and the pod. "Now get your butt over there!"
 
David turned back to Gabrielle. "You'd better go," she said. He nodded and began walking away, touching her for as long as he could until only their fingertips were in contact. She sadly watched as he walked over to where Scott, and his future, waited.
 
Methodicus smirked and shook his head as he, too, watched David follow his lamentable destiny. His expression changed as he turned to Gabrielle. "Listen," he said, putting a hand to her shoulder, "I'm ... sorry about the way things have worked out for you."
 
The bard looked at him curiously.
 
"Well, Hercules isn't the only god who gives a damn about mortals once in a while, you know," he said defensively. "He's just more ... incessant about it."
 
"Thanks, Methodicus," she said, giving him a grateful smile. "I guess I'll be OK." She looked back toward David.
 
As David neared Scott, he experienced a jolt that made his hair stand on end, then he, too, felt the future in his belly.
 
"You made it just in time," Scott told him with relief. "I think the storm's beginning to move away." One close look at David told Scott that he was not in a mood to rejoice and, giving David's shoulder an understanding pat, Scott said nothing more.
 
David could again see only Gabrielle's silhouette. She was standing holding her staff, her hair tossed by the winds. She looked so strong. She'll need that strength in the days ahead of her, thought David. By tomorrow night, he'd be gone and she would be alone. He knew that the personal storms ahead for Gabrielle would easily dwarf anything born of Zeus' fury.
 

 

The scores of people gathered at the gates of Theopolis paid little mind to the driving wind and rain. The army watched with anticipation as Agathon prepared to relieve Tiberus' shoulders of the burden of a head. The guards and citizens who had been rendered ineffective watched with a mixture of pride and horror as their beloved governor stood firm in their shared conviction that death was preferable to slavery. Xena continued to anxiously count the seconds between lightning and thunder.
 
Two. She counted two! The last time it had been one. At last, the storm was moving away. It was time. The Warrior Princess sprang into action.
 
Agathon's sword slashed the air en route to its target, but before it reached home, it had an abrupt encounter with something far more solid than Tiberus' neck. With the loud clang of metal against metal, Xena's sword stopped Agathon's blade cold and pushed it clear of the governor.
 
"Look, forget it, Xena," Agathon snarled. "You were taking way too long to handle this. I'm takin' over." He again pulled back his sword and readied it to behead Tiberus.
 
"That's where you're wrong ... 'dude'," sneered Xena mockingly. With a shrill cry, she kicked him sharply in the side, knocking him well away from striking distance of his would-be trophy. Tiberus was getting a bit confused, having prepared himself for death twice in the last two minutes, only to have his life saved by the woman who first threatened it.
 
"I don't know what kind of power trip you're on, but it's over," declared Agathon. "It's time to trash this place." He turned toward their waiting soldiers. "Kill 'em all!" he ordered. "Let's do it!"
 
The warriors were only too glad to oblige. They had dreamed of such an order since they began their march toward the city. They drew their swords and eyed the townspeople hungrily.
 
"No!" Xena barked before a single blade could pierce Theopolean flesh. "Stand your ground!" With a collective groan, the soldiers reluctantly complied.
 
"Hey!" Agathon yelled to the men as he stood up. "Are you gonna listen to a chick?" He motioned to them and mocked the sound of a whip cracking. "Come on! You know what you wanna do. So do it!"
 
As they began to again draw their swords, Xena's voice boomed over the rain. "You gonna follow Beach Boy? Most of you know me. You've either fought with me or against me. You know better than to turn on me. Now, sheath your weapons!"
 
Agathon glared at her. They both knew what would happen next. The army, bound tightly by
their oath, were split virtually in half over which of the now disagreeing duo they should follow. The residents of Theopolis were safe and ignored as the soldiers began to turn the ferocity of their bottled-in bloodlust against each other.
 
Xena turned her attention to Agathon just as he lunged toward her, leading with his sword. She
leaped into the air, leaving only empty space for his blade to pierce. He found himself sprawled in the mud and looked back to see Xena land on her feet, facing him.
 
He tackled her and as their soldiers continued to eliminate each other, the two rolled over and
over in the mud, each trying to gain the upper hand.
 
"Wow, Xena," he exclaimed. "In another situation, this could be kinda ... you know ... exciting!"
 
"In your dreams, Dragathon!" retorted the Warrior Princess as she grabbed hold of his arms and
flipped him backward over her head.
 
As she rose to her feet, he managed to land on his and rushed at her while her back was to him.
She ducked in time to avoid lethal contact and used his own momentum to again hurl him through the air. He again landed well and the two faced each other.
 
"Give it up, Muscle Man," Xena said, her eyes narrow and a sinister grin on her lips.
 
"No way!" Agathon replied. "This is way too much fun."
 
He came at her screaming fiercely, his long, gleaming sword extended toward her. How typically male, she thought.
 
In the nick of time, she crouched down and, with a yell of her own, intercepted his knees, sending him once again face first into the deepening mud. This time, she was close at hand by the time he regained his sight and each time he attempted to rise, her foot found some part of his face or other to be a convenient target.
 
Finally, she stood over him, her weapon pointing straight down at him, and his up at her. By this
time, the brawling soldiers (those that remained standing), had quieted down somewhat, realising
that the question of who to obey would soon be decided.
 
"What gives, Xena?" Agathon said, panting. "I thought we were a team."
 
"Agathon," she replied with an exasperated tone, looking straight into his eyes, "don't be such a
blonde." With that, she quickly pulled back her sword and, with a mighty swing and a loud triumphant clang, knocked his from his grip. He watched, dumbfounded, as it flew well out of his reach, landing in the wet grass. He looked back at Xena to see the point of her blade less than an inch from his nose.
 
His expression changed to one of anger. "What are you waiting for, Xena?" he sneered. "End it!" He waited, then loudly demanded, "Come on! Or is that too much to ask of a WOMAN?"
 
The Warrior Princess raised her weapon high. "Let's do it!" she breathed, and brought the sword
swiftly down upon Agathon's head.