Copyright Disclaimers: Xena and Gabrielle are the property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. The story is purely for entertainment purposes. The author does not benefit fanatically in any way from this story.
Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of violence and/or their aftermath. Readers who are disturbed by or sensitive to this type of depiction may wish to read something other than this story.
Sexual Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of sexual violence and/or their aftermath. Some readers may be disturbed by this type of depiction and anyone who is sensitive to this particular issue may wish to read something other than this story.
Love/Sex Warning/Disclaimer: There are blatant discussions, references and description of sexual relations between consenting adults. You must be over the age of 18 and it must not be a crime to read material of this nature at your present location. Some of the scenes depicted are explicit. If this bothers you, you should find other reading material.
Summary: It is the year 2036, the United States has built a maximum-security prison where you go in and can never get out. It is built in the middle of the desert where it is a four-day walk in any direction and is monitored by motion sensors and satellite imaginary.
It is called The William Jefferson Clinton Memorial Federal Prison (inside joke). The prisoners call it the Seven Circles of Hell. It is a lifer prison with no guards and no rules. The prisoners make their own rules. A tall, dark, blue-eyed female warrior who calls herself the Conqueror has ruled it for six years.
A young, green-eyed, golden-haired blond reporter is sent to Hell for a crime she didn't commit. A powerful and ruthless corporate raider must silence the young woman who learned too many secrets. Upon entering Hell, the young woman is given a vital mission that will lead her to the Conqueror.
Part 7
Chapter 6: The Fourth Circle
Large concrete slabs barricaded the path down to the Fourth Circle. Gay placed the positions of all 24 guards. Gay approached the guards in front of the slabs and ordered, "Clear me a path, now!"
"No one may pass by order of Administrator Groth," said an ebony skinned guard.
"I will pass," Gay said as leap passed the barricades and landed feet first among the guards with her staff at ready.
"Now, you will remove the barricade or we will remove it after you are gone."
"Are you the Warlord Gay?"
"Yes, I am. And I am getting impatient," she said menacing as her bow person got into position and notched their bows.
"We have our orders to keep your army on the Third Circle. However you and five guards may see the Administrator at his office.
Gay had had enough. With a single blow she leveled three of the guards. With the grace of a dancer she did a spinning back kick and kicked two more one with each foot. Guards fell in twos and threes to the graceful but deadly ballet of Gay's staff and feet. Finally only Gay stood with he staff planted on the ground as she said, "Tie them up. Remove that barricade. And make camp. I'll talk to these guys tomorrow. I'm tired."
Gay woke up screaming, again. The face of that young boy who looked so much like her brother haunted her. For the fourth night in a row, she had to dismiss her guards. For the fourth night in row, she had to tell Doc, Wash and Tuck, she was fine. For the fourth night in row, she had to drink herself into oblivion to get some sleep.
When the men left, Gay drinking the local high-octane wine, they knew they had to do something. She was killing herself. Doc spoke first, "These nightmares are getting worse. Pretty soon the wine won't even help."
"Doc, I don't know what we can do for her. Conscious is what makes her Gay. If she loses that then she just like the Conqueror," injected Tuck.
"Maybe a vacation from war will help. The Fourth Circle is pretty free from gangs after what we did to their army on the Third Circle. We can kick out this Groth guy and let Gay run things from behind a desk for a while. Then we can do our medical and engineering things, clean up the small messes ourselves before we move to Circle Five. It will Gay a break and some healing time," suggest Wash.
Doc said, "Sounds like a plan. I'll present it to Gay tomorrow after the judgments."
Wash then spoke, "Doc, about Ragnar, you think you could get her to get her Amazons to let up on the guy a bit. He could barely walk this morning and bleeding pretty bad."
Doc said one word, "Honey." Then they knew it would be a useless talk. Gay would never let up on the guy responsible for Honey's death. No matter what they said or how they said it.
Gay sat in rocking chair. The bags under her eyes and the red streaks marring the looks of her green eyes told everyone that she didn't sleep again last night. In fact, it was evident that she was quite hung over.
So it was no surprise that she had little patience with the prisoners. She sighed and said, "Gentlemen, you had 24 men and no backup. How did you hope to stop my army."
"We were order to hold as long as we could. Administrator Groth said that we would be receiving reinforcements by four o'clock yesterday," the leader explained.
"Well, it is obvious you lied to. Seems you guys were supposed to hold us up long enough for Groth to make a run for it. Well that doesn't matter. We'll find him. I'm sending you guys home. Get married. Have babies. Find a job. Not necessarily in that order, but get out of my sight. And don't let me see your faces again."
They had a senior staff meeting after Gay had a talk with her troops. Doc was elected to broach the subject of leaving the military portion of the Fourth Circle to Wash and Tuck. So she could concentrate on the administrative portion.
Gay answered, "You guys, what me to take a break, right?"
Doc replied, "Right."
"Doc, I'm not going to argue. Just do me a favor. Set up this blockade on the Fifth Circle entrance, properly. So we don't get any surprises, while we're here."
"Okay, good idea," replied Wash.
"Tuck, I want you to take the Amazons and cover areas to the north. Wash, you and your scouts and bow persons take the south. Doc, how much of an escort do you need?"
"Gay, I'd say twenty should do," replied Doc.
Gay ordered, "Tuck make 'em Amazons. All volunteers. I'll take my guard and five other Amazons. I'll take Effie, Shep, Amra, Sarah and Kelly."
Tuck responded, "No problem. But isn't Kelly a little young and raw."
"I know, but she makes me laugh and I need that right now."
The boys had to laugh. 'You could always expect an honest answer from Gay.'
Unlike the layout of the previous circles, this circle was not spread out all over the place. It was designed like the neighbors of Brooklyn and Queens. Tenement houses, light manufacturing, commercial properties and office buildings were tightly pack throughout the level. The streets wide, but few.
The biggest problem was adequate lighting. Without natural light artificial light was necessary 24 hours a day. But the wiring for this circle was not adequate for the amount of usage. So roving blackouts were necessary to keep the circuits from overloading.
It was during these blackouts that 75% of the crime at this level occurred. Gay was determined to accomplish two things before she left. One was to upgrade the wiring and two was to end the roving blackouts.
Gay's first order of business was to contact the Conqueror and tell her what was going on. "This is Gay get me the Conqueror."
"Warlord, this is Scribbler. Is really vital, because she's asleep? I'll wake if it's vital. If it can wait, I'll have her call you back. She hadn't sleep in over a week."
"I know the feeling. No, it's not vital."
"Thanks, I'll make sure she knows you need to talk to her. Bye."
"Bye."
Her first act as an Administrator was a bust. So, she didn't have permission to be the Administrator of the Fourth Circle. "Remember, the second rule life, it is easier to get forgiveness than permission," she told herself.
Six hours later she had the heads of every major business in her new office. Four were on the floor begging for their lives, when she found they were on the list of names given to her by Chin as contributors to the rebellion. She let them live as laborers on the Third Circle. She promoted two assistants from other companies.
That afternoon she learned more about the business of the Fourth Circle than she really wanted to know. 'Hell, I don't want to micromanage this place,' she thought. So she decided to tell them just that when she said, "Gentlemen, I have no idea how this Circle was run in the past, but let me assure you that I know you know your business better than me. So make or better exceed your quotas and I'll be happy. How you do is up to you?"
Young Kelly entered the room and said, "Warlord, the message you have been waiting for has arrived."
"Gentlemen, do your job and you'll get no trouble from me. You can go," Gay said in dismissal.
After they were gone, Gay said, "Go cover, Kell, give it here."
"Hey there," said Gay.
"Hey, yourself, what you need? I slept really well for a change," replied the Conqueror.
"I wish could say the same. The nightmares are killing me."
"Sorry to hear that. Killing should always haunt us. Now what did you want?"
"I called because I made a decision without you and wanted to get your permission."
"Wait, you already made the decision, but you want my permission. Okay, you got it," replied the Conqueror with a laugh
"You don't even know what I want."
"You already made the decision. So it would be kind of fruitless for me to disapprove now. I trust you to do your job."
Gay had to agree with that logic. So she said, "You know what they say, 'It is easier to get forgiveness than permission. So, you know what you just approved. I have given clean up to Wash and Tuck and I have taken over administration of the Fourth Circle. I'm looking for a replacement, but I needed a break from my military duties."
"Actually, I'm glad I approved it. What happened to Groth?"
"He took off. It seems he was up to his eyeballs in this mess."
"If you get him, I want him this time. This is personal. Groth tried this before. I need to make an example of him."
"Okay, when we find him. You get him. See ya."
"Yeah, see ya."
The Doctor found the sanitary conditions in the first three apartment houses that he visited appalling. The sewerage was backed up. The water wasn't fit to drink and the place was infested with rodents and insects. He went to see Gay.
Gay listened patiently to Doc and said to Kelly, "Go find that engineering guy, Winston and tell to get his fat butt in here."
Minutes later Winston came flying into the room landing face down. Kelly looked at Gay and said, "He said he was busy and would come later. I told him it was urgent. He balked, so I showed him it was urgent."
Gay looked down at the man and walked over to help him up. She smiled at him and punched him in the gut and said, "When I save get you butt in here that means right away. Do you understand?"
He grunted yes. To which Gay replied, "Good, now I want you to explain why the sanitary conditions in the living areas are so poor?"
"Well, Gol ..., uhm, ... Warlord, we've lost the #6 and #8 pumping facilities aren't working. And we have no pest control capability."
"Why haven't the pumping facilities been repaired?"
"I don't know how to fix them."
Gay dismissed the guy and said to Kelly, "Send runners to get Tuck and Wash, they'll know what to do. Tell them to put their seconds in command. It's time to find out if our officers can handle it anyway. This will be a good safe test."
"Yes, my Queen."
"What did you call me?"
"My Queen? Don't you know your new title? It's the Golden Queen Bitch of the Amazons," Kelly said with irreverence.
Gay laughed and said, "It start out just Bitch."
Several days later, Wash and Tuck were in Gay's office with the results from their studies and some recommendations. Wash went first, "I've come up with a couple of chemical compounds to kill the insects without hurting the people. But for the rodents, I don't have the chemicals available. What will kill the rats; will kill the people. We have to evacuate the buildings for two days, while we fumigate."
"Okay set up temporary shelters and get started."
"Okay, Tuck, let's hear it."
"Gay, I'm a chemical engineer, not a mechanical engineer, but I'm a pretty good mechanic. A lot of shot bearings, nobody maintain them. They have been lubed in a long time. I got no spare parts. I'm going to try and free them and repack them. I may be able to get them up temporarily, but I need new parts."
"I'll see what I can do, Tuck. But be creative. I know you can do it. Look, there are some smiths in town. Talk to them they may be able to help."
"Okay, Gay," he replied.
"Thanks guys, I'll see you later."
They all left and Kelly said, "My Queen," which got her a smirk from Gay, "Someone to see you, no appointment. She's interesting."
Gay shrugged and said, "Show her in."
In walked a woman who stood at least six-foot tall and was well built. She was dressed in a hooded black robe with spiked-heeled leather boots. When she through back the hood, a mane of long thick black hair emerged and Gay looked into the most piercing blue eyes she had ever seen. Gay stammered as Kelly closed the door, "Dana."
The imposing woman sat on Gay's sofa and leaned back. She crossed her long legs and said, "I had to finally meet the Golden Queen of the Amazons. And I must say I am not disappointed."
Gay looked into those blue eyes with recognition, which was returned by the Conqueror. She stood up and moved from behind her desk. Gay could only say, "You're beautiful."
"Thank you, so are you."
"Why are you here?"
"I came because I was worried about you. In our last conversation, you sounded so tired and depressed."
"I'm still not sleeping. I wake up every night screaming," as she sat by the older woman and buried her face into her breast and cried.
The dark woman wrapped her arms around the woman and let her cry. The despair poured out of her, an almost ancient despair. The tall beauty stroked Gay's golden hair and made comforting sounds. She laid Gay's head in her lap and stroked her back until she slept. Kelly came in, but was shooed away. The Conqueror, the Dark Bitch of Hell sat cradling the head of the Warlord Gay, the Golden Bitch Queen of the Amazons for several hours. All she did was stroke the younger woman and sing to her softly with a melodic voice.
After four hours, the Conqueror gently woke the sleeping woman and said, "Do you have a bed. I need some sleep and you need some more?"
They left the office, which was empty. Kelly had shooed everyone away. The Conqueror made a mental note that young woman had a lot of potential. Gay led them down a hallway to another room. In the room was a desk with chair, a dresser and a large feather bed. Gay looked up and smiled, "It's spartan, but functional."
The Conqueror took off her robe and leathers to just a simple shift and crawled into bed. Gay stripped down to her under pants and did the same. Gay cuddled into the dark woman's arms and they fell asleep, like they had been doing it for years.
Gay awoke to find the Conqueror watching her sleep. The dark woman said, "How do I know you? I have search my memory and I can't remember meeting you, but you have been in my dreams since I came here."
"I don't remember meeting you, but it like I've know you all my life. It is so strange. When we talked on radio, I knew you. I knew what you were going to say and how you going to say it. It was so familiar."
"I couldn't wait any longer. I tried to be patient, but I've never been a patient person. So, when I heard the sadness in your voice, I had to come. I'm glad I did."
"Now, what?"
"I wish I knew. I want very much to kiss you, but I don't know if that's what you want?"
"I want that very much," she said as her lips parted in anticipation.
But the kiss never came, as Kelly rushed into the room. She stammered, "I'm sorry, but we have a riot going in the living areas. I don't know what's going on, but it looks bad."
The women scrambled to get dressed, while Kelly retreated to the other side of the door. The Conqueror smiled and said, "Poor timing, but that girl has potential. I may steal her from you."
"No you won't. She's an Amazon. And you're right she's got potential. She doesn't know it, but I'm about to promote her to my guard captain."
"A little young for that isn't she?"
"I want her near me. I'm training her for other things."
"Your replacement, perhaps."
"Perhaps, I need to get out and see what the hell's happening."
"I'm coming, too."
The two women with nine Amazons strode out toward the riots. Several people had driven a guard to the ground and were beating her. Gay shouted over the din, "What is going on here?"
Everyone stopped and looked up at the small woman with the staff, but there was silence. A large man came forward and said, "Who are you, little one? You're cute. Maybe, I'll be a little gentler with you."
He never saw the staff move, but he felt it, momentary. Gay stepped over his unconscious body and said, "I asked what is going on here?"
Everyone was stunned. She had just knocked their toughest leader unconscious without moving. They all thought it was magic. The Conqueror had been about to intervene, but stopped when she saw the staff move. So, she decided to watch the small woman work.
A well built woman step forward, standing back out of staff range and said, "We want our homes back. We don't like living in tents in the rain, when there's buildings about."
"Those buildings are being fumigated. We killing the rodents and insects, which is the reason for the plague on this Circle. Now, everyone go back to your tents. Before, I let my Amazon loose."
The crowd started to edge away toward the Tent City. The well-built woman stood her ground and said, "I don't see you living in any tent."
Suddenly, Gay did a somersault flip and was standing inches from the woman. The woman was all muscle and nearly six inches taller than Gay, but everyone could see her fear. Gay looked deep into her brown eyes. The woman looked into Gay's green eyes and saw death. She felt urine running down her legs. The bigger woman turned and bolted toward the Tent City.
The hooded figure watched with a half grin on her face and began to clap. She said, "Nicely handled. Now, doesn't that Queen Bitch rep come in handy sometimes?"
"Yes, it does. Kelly, get someone to look after the wounded. And that piece of crap I creamed in jail for 60 days and give him 20 lashes."
"Before or after he wakes up."
"After, I hate being called 'little one'"
The two women made it back to the room. Gay turned to Kelly and said, "Unless they're burning down the building, I don't want to be disturbed. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Gay and the Conqueror entered her room. Gay closed and locked the door and jumped into the dark woman's arms and kissed her.
The women lied in bed looking into each other's souls and found comfort there. Each woman stroked the other's face gently. Slowly the taller woman took the initiative. She rolled on top of smaller woman and kissed gently on the lips. Her tongue gently circled the younger woman's lips. Then, lightly trailed along her cheek to rest and caresses her earlobe.
Dana took Gay's earlobe between her teeth and gently began to nipple it, while placing her hand on Gay's inside thigh. Playfully the hand began to gently caress that thigh and move seductively higher. Gay caught her breath and arched her back, trying to lean into the caress.
Dana left the earlobe and sought Gay mouth. Their tongues began to explore each other's mouths. Their tongues warred with each other in an attempt to out explore the other, while Dana's hand continued to knead desirous flesh.
Gay's hand reached out and trapped Dana's head to continue the ferociously passionate kiss. Finally, Dana's hand found what it sought and playfully caressed Gay's outer nether lips. Slowly, one finger invaded the wet slit. Slowly Gay was stroked gentle by the one finger. Then a second finger was inserted. The tempo was increased and Gay started to pump her back to the rhythm. Finally, a third finger was inserted and Gay lifted herself off of the bed with the force of her orgasm.
Dana withdrew her fingers and seductively licked Gay's juices from her fingers. Then she sucked each finger, one at a time. Dana, then, began to suckle one of Gay's nipples, then the other. Lightly she nipped each nipple with her teeth. Then she used her tongue to trace circles around each of Gay's breast. Finally, she began to lap up the sweat between Gay's breasts.
Suddenly, Dana buried her head into Gay's vagina. Her mouth and tongue sought out all its hidden secrets. Dana maneuvered her self around so that she straddled Gay's face inviting a 69. Gay obliged her.
The two women made deep and passionate love early into next morning. Neither woman could move or speak for they were both completely and utterly drained. Each woman had had a profound experience, which had felt before.
Lying in the afterglow and not wanting to lose the moment. Gay held her questions about the person in her arms until a better time. Then fell deeply asleep.
The Conqueror, too, made a decision. Gently and silently, she untangled herself from the woman who had wrenched such strong emotions from her. She sat down at the desk and wrote a note. Then pinned it to her pillow. She kissed the sleeping woman lightly on the forehead, then left.
Gay woke to an empty bed and felt empty inside. She saw the note and knew her lover had left without their much needed discussion. Gay picked up the note and read:
Dear Gay,
I could not stay longer. Things do not run themselves as you well know. I took what time I could. I have been gone four days and will not be back to my duties for at two more. Six days without the Conqueror is hard for my people to cover up. But we needed our brief encounter, our all too brief discovery of each other.
I cannot oracle the future. I would not begin to try. I do know this that we are a part of each other and that I feel more for you than any person I have ever known in my life. I cannot imagine life without you. But each of us has their responsibilities. Finish yours in a hurry and meet me on the Seventh Circle.
By the way, I told you I would steal Kelly from you. I have left a paper on your desk relieving you of Administration of Fourth Circle and giving it to Kelly. Sorry, you're not getting out of it that easily. You have seven days to gather your forces and finish your cleanup. Then you must move on to the Fifth Circle. Kelly can finish up the Fourth. We both know that.
I think you will find that the Fifth Circle is the key to solving this puzzle. We are running out of time. So, hurry up and finish this. The faster you finish, the sooner we can be together.
All my love,
Dana.
Gay found the second letter and went out of her door. She found her two guards standing outside her door. "Did you see the hooded woman leave," asked Gay.
"No, My Queen," they responded.
"Get Kelly and bring her here."
Kelly reported to Gay and Gay said, "This is for you. It's an appointment from the Conqueror for you to take charge of the Fourth Circle. I'll be leaving to gather the troops and move on to the Fifth Circle."
"My Queen, I thought I was going to be your guard captain."
"We don't have a choice in this. The Conqueror was very impressed with you and this Circle needed a strong Administrator, especially since it's not going to be completely settled when we leave."
"I've never even met the Conqueror, My Queen."
"Yes, you have."
"My Queen, the hooded woman was the Conqueror?"
"Yes, see we knew you were smart. Listen, I'm going to leave a squad of scouts and twenty Amazons here with you. Use them wisely. I don't know how many of the guards are actually loyal. We're depending on you to settle this Circle."
"I won't let you down, My Queen."
"I wish you guys would stop teasing me with that title. It's embarrassing. Oh, I guess it goes without saying that the identity of the hooded woman is our secret."
"Yes, My Queen."
"Please, stop teasing me."
"My Queen, you don't know do you," Kelly questioned as she handed a piece of paper to Gay.
It read:
To all residents of the Seven Circles,
Let it be known that the woman known as the Warlord Gay is hereby proclaimed to be Queen of the Amazons and betroth to the Conqueror. Any person or persons not showing my lady the proper respect will suffer my wrath.
So say I,
Dana, Conqueror of the Seven Circles.
Gay with tears in eyes and a blush in her cheeks said, "Well, she could have asked first."
"My Queen, would it have made a difference?"
"No, but she could have asked."
Five days later, Wash came running up to Gay, who now rode a silver stallion. It was a gift from the Conqueror it came with a note:
Dearest,
I would have asked, but you might have said no. I couldn't chance it. As a wise person once told me, 'It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.' So, I ask for your forgiveness. Please, accept this horse as a token of my apology. If you ride him, I will know you have forgiven me.
All my love,
Dana.
"All is ready. Do we move out, My Queen?"
"Et tu, Wash. You are not an Amazon. I am not your queen."
"Yes you are, Gay. You always will be, My Queen," he said with a evil smirk.
"Okay, lets go to the Fifth Circle."