THE UBER-ADVENTURES
BY: AMAZON MOON
DISCLAIMER:===========Xena, Gabby and gang belong to MCA, yadda, yadda but the rest aresolely creations by yours truly. This piece of work is of alternate natureso if it icks you out for some queer reason, feel free not to read it...I'm not gonna cut the flow of blood to your brain or anything, just well,maybe take a wicked aim with my chakram. That is if I'm feeling baaaaaaadthat day. >:) No infringement of copyrights intended. No dinars are made here anyway... I'm still a *broke* writer.
The big deal of The Uber-Adventures is that we get to see both our2 fab femmes descendents/ reincarnates (whatever you choose to call) in theNew World. The world we live in today. There'll be some references to thepast now and there. If you haven't read The Eye Of Hera, go read it... itmight be of help... even if it doesn't, well, read it anyway. <grin>
If you haven't, you bad kid, gone to my group's XA webpage yet, makesure you get there ASAP. Sign the guestbook and click around. There'll be updates and stuff soon, promise. We all just need time. :) The address ishttp://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Sands/8775
Right then, shall end my crapping here and just let you unto my latest piece of work, yeah? And as always, pleasant viewing... (holler ifyou need my help, I'll be armed with the kitchen knife).Amazon Moon 1998 C.
Chapter 1: Beginnings======================
Abby Piers sighed as she wiped an invisible spot on the countertop. She was a pretty blonde of eighteen, considered slight in size and height.She wished she was taller than her 5"3 but she had been that height for a long time now so she reckoned she had stopped growing. She would've made itto college if her folks had the cash but they didn't. She knew she'd makea great writer one day... she had written stories, mostly about damsels indistress but they were too personal to be printed. Well, actually she hadnever approached a publisher due to the fear of rejection. But she'll be well-known one day. One day.
She now worked at her parents' chip shop, simply called Piers' Chip Shop, on the wrong side of town. It was a family business consisting of herparents, her younger sister Libby and their close family friend Peter. Peterwas Abby's bestfriend since she was four. They'd played together, ate theirmeals together... even shared a bubble bath together (but that was when theywere five year old kids!).
Mr and Mrs Piers adored Peter and took him in warmly when both hisparents perished in a tragic boating accident two years back. To them, it was just a matter of time when he would become part of their family. It was clear to see that Peter loved Abby. In fact, he had just proposed a week ago. Abbyagreed to the proposal, under the pressure her parents gave. But she knewshe wasn't perpared yet and said she'd only marry when she turned 21. Petersmiled and told her he'd wait forever for her if he had to.
Abby was confused. She'd known Peter so long now, and she had always treated him as the brother she never had. He was a good man, a good soul. And he had that kind of lovable dark floppy hair and warm brown eyes. But somehow, she wasn't feeling as excitied as someone totally in love would feel. Was she really romantically in love with him?
She pushed the thought away. What was worrying her now was theirfinancial problems. Business at the chip shop wasn't good. And the thugsfrom down the street had been pestering them constantly for the monthy protection fees they had to pay. If the money doesn't reach them by next week, they swore they would burn the shop down. Abby sighed again.
"Hey."
Abby jerked her head up, startled. She had been so deep in thought that she actually didn't hear anyone enter. Her startled green eyes met soulful pale blue ones. She gasped unintenionally. The stranger before herwas a good looking man, equally strapping and dashing in the leather jackethe wore. His long black hair hidden inside his Indiana Jones-like hat. His hat casted a mysterious shadow over half of his strong face. Abbyheld her gaze for a second too long. Definately not from around here.
"Uh, sorry, wha-what can I get you?" Abby stammered as she put away the cloth, turning to face the stranger. He could have been in his early thirties. Was he married? Nah, didn't look like it. Abby blushed... by thegods, what was she thinking? She was already attached to Peter-
"What's good around here?" the stranger drawled, leaning over the counter and rubbing his chin. He looked tired and hungry. He had a fighter's hands; tough, tanned and strong, Abby observed. This stranger took her breath away, he was... so different from the usual crowd that came. So intriguing...
"Well...," Abby blinked as she took a deep breath,"the fish andchips aren't bad." She watched as the stranger rose to his full height,he was at least a six footer. Abby could sense the hard biceps under theleather. She sneaked a peak past his shoulder and saw an unfamiliar shinymotorcycle parked outside. The Harley had to be his. Abby smiled subconsciously. Talk about style.
"All right then," the stranger gave a dazzling white smile and a deft shake of his head,"I'll have the fish and chips." He walked away fromthe counter and settled down at a table. He took out a cigar from his pocket,skilfully lit a match against the table, and began to smoke. He blew cloudyrings in the air and Abby watched them dissolve into nothingness as if shehad been held transfixed by the mesmerising stranger.
"One fish and chips coming up," Abby mumbled as she walked into thekitchen. She had never seen such a dazzling smile before, Her heart felt like it had dropped to the pits of her stomach. One thing she knew, Peterhad never had this sort of effect over her before.
"Whassup? Trouble out there?" Peter asked her as he looked up fromchopping meat. He looked at her concerned,"Abby, you okay, honey? You lookeddazed."
Abby smiled tightly as she shook her head,"Nah, no trouble at all. Customer wants an order of fish and chips. Make it snappy." Just then, Libbycame through the backdoor, a frantic look on her face. She looked flusteredas she slammed the backdoor. Her pale face was flushed and her puffing cheeks were a bright pink.
"They're coming," Libby told her sister. She cast a worried look behind her. She swallowed hard and turned to Peter,"Peter, do something!" She had hardly finished her sentence when they all heard a big commotion outside. They took a peek outside the kitchen door.
The gangsters were there, making a racket again. They wanted them topay the monthly protection fees. Libby trembled and hugged her elder sister.Abby looked on helplessly and turned to Peter. He gulped. He wasn't the type to fight things out.
Abby cleared her throat,"I'm talking to them." Before they could stop her, she opened the door and walked outside to face the unruly ruffians. Shecarried a heavy rolling pin behind her, just in case.
"There she is," the gangster Abby knew as Drake sneered as Abby camebehind the counter. The ruffian had numerous tatoos, even on his bald shavenhead. He had many body pierces too. And a disgusting one protruded out fromhis lower lip. His cold lusty eyes reminded Abby of a snake.
Drake's partner, the thug whom everyone called Rock, suddenly took her by the neck and shouted in her ear. "When are you going to pay up, youstupid wretch?" He started strangling Abby, shaking the girl like a rag doll.Abby dropped her rolling pin in surprise and it clattered onto the shinymopped tiled floor behind her.
"Now that's no way to treat a lady," a voice called out from behind.
Rock turned his bulky 6"5 frame around, his grip still on Abby's neck. He saw himself looking down at a stranger, some guy in a dusty hat andleather jacket. He frowned when the end of the stranger's cigar lited upintimidatingly. He glared at him. "This is none of yer business, go get yerhairy butt outta here!"
Rock was just about to turn back to the hapless girl when he felt the wind knocked out of him. He released Abby as he clutched his stomach. Thestranger had hit him. Hard. Rock grunted menacingly,"Nobody gets away with hitting Rock!" He was in the midst of getting up and throwing a punch overinto the other man's face when he felt someone land a heavy blow down theback of his neck before landing a hardy punch on the side of his face. Rockvomitted out water before collapsing unto the floor in a heap.
"Well, somebody does now," the stranger said quietly as he bit down on his smoking cigar. He looked over at Drake, who stood there quaking inhis shoes. He had forgotten completely about Abby's presence, his shifty eyes only focused on the dangerous stranger before him, who had single-handedly taken on his friend, the unbeatable Rock, who now lay as ifdead on the floor.
The stranger tilted his face slightly, so only his cold blue eyescould be seen under the rim of his hat. He glared at the frightened hooliganwith his powerful gaze. "Want some?"
Drake shook his head so hard, any harder it would've rolled off hisshoulders. "N-n-no."
"Pick up your friend and get yer asses outta here," the stranger ordered,"... and don't you let me find you in here anymore or..." The end ofthe cigar glowed warningly. "...or you'll be a couple of dead ducks."
Drake nodded his head like a bobbing toy and slung his fallen friend's arm around his neck. He then half-carried and half-dragged Rockaway from the place as fast as he could, his face pale and his lips quivery.
Abby realised she had been staring at the stranger for at least tenseconds with her mouth agape. She found her manners and thanked him immediately. "Thank you. Thank you so much, for saving me and-"
The stranger held out his hand, stopping her from gushing. He blewout the cigar smoke before turning back to her. "Just hurry up with my food,lady. I'm starving." He gave a small smile, a hint of the weariness inside.
"Right, of course," Abby grinned at her saviour before rushing backinto the kitchen. Bursting in, she exhaled. "Did you guys see that?"
Libby nodded her head,"That guy was terrific- he beat the living daylights outta that hulk. My hero." Peter kept a sullen silence.
"Well, your hero wants his food right now," Abby pointed,"...heroesneed to eat too, you know." She took the plate Peter handed her before hurrying out.
"Do you think I'm a coward?" Peter asked Libby when Abby was out ofearshot,"...because I didn't go out there? What would Abby think of me?" Hesighed as he looked away dejected.
Libby wiped her hands before squeezing his hand,"C'mon Peter, Sisknows you're not that type of fighting guy. She'll understand." Peter keptpeeling the potatoes, a sullen look on his face.
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"Here you go," Abby grinned as she settled the hot plate infront ofthe stranger. She could have sworn she heard the growl of his stomach. Shewatched him dig in hungrily. "It's on the house."
"Thanks," the stranger said between mouthfuls. Looking at him, Abbywondered if he hadn't eaten for days or what. He seemed desperately famished. She pulled a chair and sat opposite him.
"My name is Abby," Abby introduced herself. She contemplated offering to shake hands but reckoned he needed both hands to eat. She bentcloser and smiled at the man before her,"...what's yours?"
"Luther," the man looked up from his plate, slowing down on his chomping. He swallowed down the food. "My name is Luther." He proceeded backto his food again. The plate was nearly empty.
"It was incredible, the way you took on that guy," Abby started, herhands starting to do a frantic dance. She grinned at Luther,"You werefantastic! Thank you so much for saving us... I doubt those morons will comehere after that showdown, woo!" She looked back at Luther, who was stillfacing his plate.
"So uh, Luther," Abby tried to sneak a peak at the blue eyes hiddenunder the rim of hat,"...you're not from around here are you? Where are yougoing? Is that bike outside yours? If it is, it's cool- it's a Harley isn'tit? Do you-"
Luther rolled his eyes up wearily, without Abby knowing. Geesh, thisgirl sure was a chatterbox. Luther looked up from his now empty plate and looked at the sunny blonde before him. She stopped what she was saying. Hedecided to answer her questions,"Thanks, thanks again, you're very welcomed,that's very good, no, somewhere, yeah, thank you, yeah again. Anymore questions?" Abby kept silent, her cute mouth slightly opened. Luther mouthcurled into a dry smiled. "Good." He got up to leave.
"Hey wait," Abby suddenly took hold of his hand,"...where are you going to? It's nearly dark. You've got to take me with you please, don't leave me here." Her green eyes stared pleadingly into his. Her lips quiveredsoftly,"Please."
There. She'd said it. It just came from splurts from her brain. Shewasn't fully aware she'd said all that until she heard her voice with thestrange plea with her own two ears and noticed Luther's expression.
Luther nearly did a double take. "Lady, you don't know what you'reheading for." He tried to pry her hand away. She gripped it tighter.
"I do, and I don't like the way it currently looks," Abby answered, determination shining brightly in her clear green eyes,"...please Luther, I promise I won't be a drag." She didn't know what came over her. But she just knew that she had to leave this place... it was driving her nuts. She wanted to explore the world. He just had to take her.
"Abby, no," Luther said gently as he released her hand,"you don'tknow me." He turned to leave. Abby watched sullenly as he got out the doorand sat on his motorcycle. She watched as he slowly pulled away, ready to roar away from her life. Her life. What was she going to do next? Do thedishes? Peel the potatoes? Fry onions?
"No!" Abby stood up, tearing her appron away. She hurridly scribbleda note to her sister on a napkin and left the place, hurrying after Luther.She had to find him. She just had to. She quickly hailed a cab.
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Luther roared off into the night on his trusty motorcycle, Argo,named after the famous ship in ancient Greek stories. He had quite a bit of excitment, nearly enough for the day. It had been five years...it's been so long. He had to serve time in jail for the crimes he had done. You could say it was all behind him now, but wht's been done cannot be undone. The memories and guilt would always be there. To haunt him.
He was going to visit some old friends. Going back to his sweetheartDahlia. All these years in jail, he had missed her so much. He had been unfair to her, hadn't loved her enough. But now he was back, and he had changed his ways. He was going to marry her. He even had the ring safelytucked inside his coat pocket.
Luther increased sped. He couldn't wait to see his bestfriend Clay too. He wondered how he was. Five years, Luther mused, many things happen infive years. Yeah, he couldn't wait to reach Paolo's, the bar they'd always hung out at.
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"Hurry, please, don't lose that bike!" Abby told the cab driver asshe frantically kept her eye on Luther's bike. She couldn't afford to losesight of him.
"All right, lady,"the driver gruffily reassured her for the seventhtime."We've got 'im on his tail."
Luther finally stopped his bike and parked outside a happening pub called Paolo's. Abby noticed this and squealed for the cabbie to stop. She pulled out a fiver from her purse and hopped out, chasing after Luther, who had already gone inside.
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Luther adjusted his hat so that it covered most of his face. Hewondered if the regulars were still around. And if anyone recongised him. The place didn't seem to change much. Luther recongised some people. Peoplehe associated with five years ago. He passed them. No more shady business for him anymore. He had a new life to lead.
"Dahlia," Luther whispered when he caught sight of her. He smiled.She hadn't changed all that much. Sure she had changed, but he could stillrecongise her. She had kept her auburn hair longer then when he'd last seen it and it went past her slim waist. She had put on weight too. And she seemed so happy too, Luther noted. The pretty pub singer was laughing and she had this gay twinkle in her eyes. Those eyes, Luther shut his eyes, remembering those deep gray pools. He had to go up to her now.
She had finished her song and smiled brightly, sliding off the stoolgracefully, her guitar in hand. Luther was just about to stride up andembrace her when a small child, barely four years old came running up to herwith his small arms held open. His features were hauntingly familiar. Hegiggled as Dahlia picked him up. "Mommy!"
Luther froze in his tracks. A happy looking man stood beside her, a proud smile on his face as he fussed his young son's dark hair. Lutherreconigzed him. They had been best buds since forever. It had to be Clay.Even though he had put on weight, grew a mostache and removed his earrings.Luther slumped dejectedly when he saw the similiar gold bands they wore ontheir fingers. Clay and Dahlia, they were married.
He had to get out of there. Leave Poalo's and never come back. Hehad never felt so betrayed before. They even had a kid, for god's sake.He bumped into a burly giant in his blindness. He knew who it was. It wasFatman Cyclopses, the mean nickname everyone at Paolo's gave the ruffianafter Luther himself had blinded him in one eye in a brawl years back.
"You!" Luther heard the man roar, his breath thick with alcohol."What are you doing here?" He raised a heavy hand to strike but Luther wasquicker in his reflexes. He slammed a mighty punch into the giant's gut,venting his frustrations of the betrayal.
Fatman fell unto a heap on the floor and people moved away as hehit the ground. Luther was back. He looked at the fallen man on the sweatyfloor, disgusted. He brushed his hands and went off to another corner,breathing heavily.
Luther felt a part of him die and he leaned against the wall for support. He sucked in some air and willed himself to stay calm. But beforehe knew it, hot tears spilled down his cheeks. He felt betrayed. It smerted.It hurt. His Dahlia and bestfriend Clay. "Damn," Luther swore before heading to the washroom. Tonight was definately not one of his favourites.
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Abby entered the bar self-consciously. Cigarette smoke and the smellof beer hung thick in the air. Abby waved away the smoke and ventured inner into the pub, like a little innocent lamb venturing into hyena grounds. Bothhad no idea what lay ahead. Abby fumed. Where was that Luther?
"Hey beautiful," a skinny man in a seedy tweed coat leered at her,a mug of beer in hand. His ratty breath stank of alcohol. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"No thanks," Abby polietly stepped backwards, away from the man. In doing so, she bumped into none other than Fatman Cyclopes. And he wasn't looking very friendly. His gut still hurt where Luther had hit him. He gruntedand Abby gulped,"sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"What's a girl like you doing in a punk house like this?" Fatman questioned, eyeing her up and down as if undressing her with his eye. Abby saw the dirty brown patch over his right eye and realised he was blind in one eye. "Anything you're planning to sell?"
Abby shuddered and she knew it wasn't about the temperature. Sheshook her head and tried smiling polietly. "Well no, I uhm, I was lookingfor a friend of mine. He came in here."
"A friend?" the giant gleamed, his burly arms crossed against histhick chest. "Here?"
"Yes," Abby nodded. "His name's Luther, know him?"
"Luther?" Fatman snarled, his black teeth showing. It wasn't exactly a pretty sight. Abby cringed and swallowed weakly. Then suddenly, the manbroke into a chilling smile and took the girl by the hand. "Come with me,any pal of Luther's a pal of mine."
He brought her upstairs, to a room tucked away in a corner. Hepushed Abby in and locked the door after him, his one eye gleaming withmadness. He stretched out his thick arms, roared, and rushed forward likea charging bull.
"Wait!" Abby yelped as she ducked and hurried over to another side."What are you doing?"
"Fatman hates Luther!" the giant screamed as he tried advancing again."Luther made me blind!"
"Whoa, wait," Abby held out her hands. "Listen to me first... I, Ihate Luther too."
Fatman dropped his jaw, his eye wide in surprise. "You do?"
"Well, yeah I do," Abby shook her head, a mean smile curled on herpretty lip. "I told you I'm a friend but pah! Wait til I get him. I'llgive him a trashing that he'll never forget."
"Wait a sec," Fatman paused to think, something that happened once in a blue moon. He scratched him head. "But how can a girl like you teachLuther a lesson?"
Abby stared at the floor before jerking her head up, her green eyesbright and scheming. "That's what Luther would think. How can an innocentlooking thing like me get him. Well, I'll trick him and lead him here intothis room where you'll pummel him, finish him off once and for all. How 'boutthat?"
"Yeah!" Fatman pumped a fist into the air, thrilled by Abby's brillantidea. "
"So now you stay put in this room and get ready when I bring him in, okay?" Abby instructed as she walked out of the room backwards. "Be sureto stay here and *don't* go anywhere!"
With that, Abby closed the door and briskly walked away. She smiledas she looked up at the fanciful ceiling. "Thank the gods for dumb Fatman Cyclopses."
She was going down the stairs when she saw Luther leaving the scene.She rushed over, careful not to lose sight of him and tugged at his jacketwhen she reached him. She looked at him breathlessly as he turned around to face her, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
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Luther took her to a cosy cafe and got her a warm drink. Abby satacross the table, quietly sipping her hot chocolate. Luther seemed different, a little depressed. His eyes seemed misty too.
"Let me get this straight- you followed after me and went into Paolo'sto look for me?" Luther asked Abby softly, as if he was upset with her. Luther shook his head,"What were you thinking?"
"I-I wanted to escape," Abby explianed,"I wanted you to take me with you so I-"
"So you followed me?" Luther demanded, an eyebrow raised.
"I'm sorry," Abby apologized. Please don't turn me away, please.
"No," Luther looked up, blue eyes blazing,"...*I'm* sorry."
Abby raised both her eyebrows questioningly. She didn't understand.
Luther sighed. It's been so stressful. He shook his head wearily."I should've told you. I'm not who you think I am, Abby. I'm- I'm no saint.I've done time... I just came out from a five year sentence. I was a monster-- like those guys down at Paolo's, just much worse. I lead them. We burnedshops, destroyed homes, broken up families, killed people... we were likedemons. But I got tired of it and... changed. I betrayed my own men to theCIA and made them do time. I'm someone with a... past."
Abby kept silent, her eyes glued to the contents of her mug. Luthersighed fustratedly. Now what would she think of him? Nothing could changethe past... no matter how much he tries to repent, his ugly past would catchup with him. It was no use.
"I admire you even more."Abby whispered as she gently put down her mug, her green eyes staring at him intently.
"What?" Luther fluttered open his eyes. Did he hear what he thoughthe just did? He looked at her as if she'd said something crazy.
"Yes, you're trying to atone for your mistakes... you're working forthe greater good now," Abby reasoned,"... you should be proud of yourself. Iam." She reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Wait, I- I'm not done yet," Luther took his hand away, a wave of guilt passing over his face. "My name isn't exactly Luther."
"No?" Abby studied his face,"But the people there called you that."
"Yeah, I know," Luther sighed. It was a petname Dahlia had given hima long time ago, when they were having it almost every night.
"Well then, what is it?" Abby probbed, interested.
Luther ripped off the fake goatee and removed his hat. Long dark hair tumbled down in waves and Abby found herself facing one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Luther smiled. "My name is Dena."
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"Dena?" Abby echoed hollowly, her green eyes wide with surprise. She gripped her mug and stared at the woman before her. "You're a *woman*?"
"Yes I am," the dark woman smiled as she softened her voice and shook loose her hair. Her blue eyes had an interesting twinkle as it caught Abby's bewildered expression.
"You're Dena," the young girl gulped. "As in Dena Ambers?"
"Yeah. How did you know?" Dena eyed her carefully with her crystal blue eyes.
"No, it's just that... you're a living legend. Who wouldn't know Dena Ambers and her gang? Everyone." Abby said truthfully, still in a bit of shock that the tough woman before her was the legendary gang leader.
"I'm that famous, huh?" Dena shook her head surly as she swirled her dark coffee.
"Why did you pretend to be a man called Luther?" Abby asked, her green eyes searching for answers. "Why are you in disguise?"
Dena Ambers exhaled slowly, her eyes faraway and distant, as if searching for a memory lost behind her head. "I got tired of my way of living. My eyes opened up one day and I realised how wrong I've been. I had to change. I couldn't live with all that slaughter, with innocent blood and guilt on my hands. I had to stop."
Abby clasped her hands as she watched the intriguing woman speak. She was fascinating. She decided to ask questions only after she had finished.
"I betrayed my gang for that. The Mafia wasn't exactly pleased. I did my time with the others and now I'm out. But they'll be there to get me, I know. I've broken our code and betrayed them." Dena said bitterly, the outline of her strong jaw could be seen under the dim light of the place.
"So that's why you came in disguise?" Abby saw the woman nod. She folded her hands and looked across. "So what are your plans now, Dena?"
"I've got to undo the deeds I've done." Dena stared through the glass window into the empty night street. "I'll be travelling, helping people get those thugs off their backs. And stop them completely."
"Can't I come too?" Abby pleaded. "We can learn lots from each other."
Dena was just about to stick to saying no when she realised she had made a couragous effort to leave home after a stranger and go through a place like Paolo's. She grimiced. "All right, but you've gotta take care of yourself."
"Right on," Abby smiled as she reached over to squeeze her hand but Denabrushed it away.
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They slept on the rooftop of a flat, empty building. It was nothing to Dena, she was as tough as a nail. Abby had to make some adjustments though. The night was chilly and the floor was damp. She slept fitfully in her thin sweater and jeans. Dena shook her head at the stubborn girl and closed her weary eyes. It's been some day.
She opened them two hours later and found that Abby was shivering in hersleep. She wasn't used to this. Dena strided up to the sleeping girl and covered her with her warm jacket before going back to her own corner to rest. It would be morning soon.
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Abby woke up with the sun in her face. She was holding something warm over her. She rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes and looked down to see what it was. It was Dena's leather jacket. She bolted upright and looked around. She was no where to be seen. Abby had a sinking feeling that Dena had left her. She called out uncertainly, trying to keep her tone calm. "Dena?"
"Had a good rest?" a voice asked her as Dena's head popped into view. Abby looked up and Dena jumped down, landing on the floor infront of her. Shehad her bag with her. She tossed a wrapped sandwich over to Abby.
"I thought you left me," Abby handed Dena back her jacket as she helped her roll up the canvas slips they had slept on. "I'm glad you didn't."
Dena smirked silently as she folded the rolls into the backpack. She wasn't used to this whole thanking business. It sounded so strange.
"And thank you for lending me your jacket," Abby went on, oblivious to Dena's soft sign. "It was snug."
"Shut up and eat your breakfast," Dena scolded. She wasn't annoyed, well maybe a little. But she was embrassed. She didn't have to be so polite. "...before the damn crows get it."
Abby chewed on the sandwhich, savouring the taste in her mouth with each bite. Her famished stomach growled like a starved beast and she grinned embrassedly. "This is good, thanks."
Dena gave her a brief nodd before going back to refilling supplies into her trusty brown leather backpack. "Enjoy." As long as the kid didn't ask what kind of meat was inside the bread, everything was going to be okay.
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They travelled out of the town and entered another. By then, it was earlyafternoon, with the midday sun high over their heads. Abby sat behind Dena as theyrode the powerful Argo through the streets. They went past a bank and immediately, Dena pulled Argo to a stop.
"What?" Abby questioned as Dena hopped off the motorcycle, her lips pressedfirm and her blue eyes narrowed to slits. "What's going on? Dena?"
Dena coolly put on her slick looking sunglasses. She wore no disguise now and had her dark hair pulled back into a plait behind her head. She was dressed in black and looked good enough to swoon. Dena frowned. "The bank. There's a robbery going on."
Abby quickly scrambled off Dena's bike and followed after her. She watched from behind how Dena's well toned arms swayed in her tight black singlet and the long confident strides she made in her black pants. Her boots made no sound as she walked on the chipped pavement. They were a couple of steps towards the bank when its door flew open and two masked men can rushing out, their loot in hand. Abby saw that they were armed each, with a gun. She bit her lip and tried to gear her mind for action.
"Hello boys," Dena grabbed one of them from the back of his neck. She smiled as she threw a punch at the face of the other one. "Been bad?"
The flustered robber tried using his gun but Dena kicked it out of his handsand sent it flying before he could even pull the trigger. She elbowed the guy in thestomach savagely before throwing an upright fist, catching him under the chin andsending him flying on top of his partner, who was just begining to get up.
Both guns were beyond their reach now and they were too beaten up to get up and run. A crowd had come over to watch and following Abby's cue, they startedclapping. Police sirens were soon heard coming down the street.
"C'mon, let's go," Dena took Abby by the arm, leading her to Argo.
Abby tried looking into her eyes but her shades were too dark. "Dena? Why not stick around, let the cops praise you and stuff."
"Too much of a hassle," Dena grunted as she gunned the engine and they rode away.
They rode down a few blocks before stopping by a diner. It looked very much like her chip shop back home, Abby mused as they got off and sauntered into the cheap diner. It was not a good time, Abby realised. The people in there were fighting.
The gangsters off the streets had came in to make a racket, Abby realised.They were asking for a large sum of money which the owner was reluctant to give. The racket was beginning to drive customers away.
"All right," Dena suddenly hollered, her hands by her hips and her long legsapart. "What's going on?" Abby came from behind her and stood by her friend, tryingher best to look as intimidating as she could. She had to practise.
The owner of the diner was a brunette woman past her prime. She must have beenbeautiful once, Abby observed but her face was now lined with worry and her eyes wereweary and sad. She looked over at Dena before turning away, as if filled with disdain."I don't tell strangers my problems."
"No wait," Abby told the woman as she eyed the burly men warily. "Let Dena help you. She's good..."
"She never wanted to help in the first place," the woman turned around hotly,her eyes suddenly going red. "Why would she now?"
"Dena," one of the thugs came forwards, a cocky grin on his greasy face. Hecrossed his muscled arms infront of his bare chest and took a walk around her, hisshifty eyes studying her. "Welcome home. Must be a sweet family reunion... Mommy andand her prodigal daughter."
"Shut up Spike," Dena snarled, her blue eyes glowing under those dark glasses."And get out of here if you still can. No one bugs my mother. Not with me around."
"OOh," Spike pretended idiotically that she nearly bit him. "I'm scared. Aren't we all, boys?" He laughed wildly, like a crazy hyena. Big mistake, Abby shookher head firmly.
Dena suddenly had him by the back of his neck and gave him a quick, hard jab on the side of his neck with two sturdy fingers. He had scarely uttered a sound whenblood started dripping from his nose and he became weak. Very weak.
"I've cut off the flow of blood to your brain," Dena smiled as she told him."You'll be dead in thirthy seconds." Abby shuddered at Dena's smile at such an icky situation. She was scary.
Spike had collasped to his knees and his blood was dripping down his chin. Hetried to struggle but it was no use. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. All he could feel was the numbing pain.
"Tell your men to call it off," Dena hissed into his ear. "Never come back to this diner again."
Spike waved his hand limply and nodded, the whites of his eyes showing. Hespluttered, cold sweat beginning to form on his forehead. "Promise... never... comebaccck," He fainted.
Dena immediately gave him another quick jab before leaving him in a heap on the floor. He was alive, just unconsicous. She gave a quick commanding jerk of her head to the rest of Spike's quaking gang. "Get him outta here and don't show your faces in here ever again."
They followed her orders like scared school boys, hurridly dragging theirleader out of the place. Abby smiled, impressed. After she made sure none of them turned back, Dena walked up to her mother. "Hello Mother."
Celine stared coldly at her daughter as Dena removed her shades. They had thesame eyes, Abby noted as she came forward. Celine looked away, refusing to look herway. "It doesn't mean that everything's okay since you got rid of those men."
Dena sullenly folded her glasses and looked away. She sighed. "I know. Itdoesn't. I'm sorry."
Abby stepped forward. "'Mam, I'm Abby and I'm from Pier's Chip Shop. Dena, she helped me the way she helped you. And on the way, she stopped a bank robbery from succeding and..."
"Why bother, Dena?" Celine questioned the tough woman before her, her angryeyes ablaze. "Your brother is dead because of you. You can never undo what you'vedone to me. To everyone."
Dena was quiet for a moment then she replaced her shades, as if trying to hideher emotions. "She's right," She said flatly as she walked out of the door, past Abby."I can't change everything."
She didn't take her bike but continued her journey on foot so Abby didn't worry. She wasn't going to leave her bike behind. Abby decided to stay to talk withthe woman."Look, I know you probably hate your daughter for all the wrongs that she'ddone but really, she's trying to change. She's done time."
Celine wiped away her tears, shaking her head slowly as she sat down on a chair. "No, she'll return to her old ways, just you see. Trouble will start all overagain."
"Why don't you just give her a chance?" Abby pressed on, taking the chairopposite the woman. "Everyone deserves chances. I know you love her, as much as sheadores you. She's trying hard to change, Celine. Why not help her?"
Abby squeezed Celine's hand and the older woman looked into Abby's innocentgreen eyes. "All right. I will." Abby smiled. Dena owned her one.
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"Hello Lucas," Dena greeted her brother's tombstone as she sat down on theturf of grass beside it. She was at the town cemetary, where they had buried her younger brother Lucas nearly ten years ago. It had rained during the cemetary and sheknew everyone, even Celine, had balmed her for his untimely death. He had only beensixteen.
Dena stroked the well weathered tombstone lovingly, as if feeling his face. She tried controling her tears but they came anyway. Her first tear in years. Sheremoved her shades, showing her sad blue eyes. She hurriedly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. She hated it when she got like this.
"How've you been, Lucas? Enjoying yourself in the Elysian Fields?" Dena smiled as she pulled out the straggly weeds around his grave. They had been great big fans of ancient Greek mythology. Their old grandaunt Mel had been a great influence on that area in the family. Too bad she died three years before Dena was born. She would have enjoyed the stories she'd tell of her travels with other archeologists.
Lucas loved those stories Celine would tell them at bedtime, stories of theold heroes and their courages deeds. Lucas had a puppy once, before it got rolled overby a car. He named it Argo. And as a tribute, Dena named her machine after her littlebrother's pet doggie.
"It's so hard, you know," Dena lit a match by the side of his stone, watchingthe flame burn then die off. "No one will ever accept me. For who I was, for who I am.And all those things I had done."
She tossed the match away and lit another, staring into the flame. "If onlyMother would understand and take me back. I'd have the strength to carry on with thisnew life again."
Dena's voice wobbled with emotion. She was no longer the slick confidentfighter. She was now like a sad kid whose pup had died. Her fingers rubbed againstthe rough stone. "I love you Lucas, always."
The stoic woman got up and dusted herself, making sure that there were no telltale signs that she had shed any tears. To make sure, Dena replaced her glasses andtook a last glance at the lonely rock with her brother's name on it. She smiled wanly,her eyes on his nearly-rubbed out name. "Goodbye."
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"Dena, where have you been?" Abby demanded as she jumped out her chair theinstant the woman strided in. "You've been gone for hours!" Celine was seaten quietlyin a corner, studying the fascinating floor.
"I had to be alone for awhile," Dena said quietly as she pulled up a chair inbetween them. "With Lucas."
Celine looked up and smiled. "You went to visit your brother?"
"Yeah." Dena ran her tongue over her dry lips. "Always have."
Celine smiled as she looked into the distance, as if telling something frommemory. "I remember fondly, you and Lucas were absolute nuts over those ancient Greekbedtime stories. Lucas especially. He adored Hercules."
Dena smiled a little, remembering those innocent years. "Yeah, he'd pester youto always tell him stories of Herc and Ullyses. Always."
"Well, you were into them as well," Celine looked at her grown-up daughter."Iremember so well." She reached over and placed her hand over hers. "So well."
Dena jerked her head up at her mother's touch, her mouth slightly opened. Shewhispered, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "You do?"
"Yes I do, Dena," Celine smiled through her tears. "Every little detail."
"You forgive me, Mother?" Dena asked. Lucas must have been watching over her in the fields. Celine had soften to her. Or maybe, yes, it had to be. It was Abby'sdoing. She had convinced Celine somehow.
"I do, Dena," Celine squeezed her hand.
Dena smiled a grin she hadn't done for many years. She went over and hugged her mother. Not wanting to spoil the moment, Abby stole out and decided to get somemore clothing 'cos she was going to need it, travelling with Dena and all.
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It was after dinner and Dena was upstairs with Abby. Celine was still downstairstending to her customers before they closed for the night. Dena had showered and wasdrying her wet hair. She was wearing nothing underneath her white bathrobe. Abby wasstaring outside the window, silently reciting one of her favourite poems. She wonderedhow her parents were taking it, her sudden leaving and all.
"Abby?" Dena suddenly called out, her damp towel in hand.
The blonde turned her green eyes on the woman by the side of the bed. "Yes?"
"Come here a sec," Dena gestured beside her. "Sit down, I won't bite."
Abby obeyed but her eyes were questioning.
"Look," Dena started, tossing the damp towel aside as she faced the girl. Her robe opened up momentarily and Abby got a peek of her left breast. She swallowed andtried looking away. Dena didn't seem to notice. "Abby, I'd like to thank you for talkingto my Mother and all. You've been a big help."
"Nah, it's nothing," Abby turned back, a grin on her face. "I owed you one,remember? For saving my chip shop."
"But thanks anyway," Dena thanked warmly before turning in for the night. "We'llbe leaving tomorrow morning, Abby. 'Night."
"'Night," Abby whispered as Dena turned off the lights. She climbed into the bedafter Dena, her body just inches away. Her mind was a whirl. What, just because she sawanother woman's breast? But she couldn't sleep at all, not with the thought of Dena'sbody beside hers. But she couldn't, could she? Dena was a woman afterall...
"Can't sleep?" a voice drawled beside her. Abby stopped tossing and sat up on the lumpy mattress, her blonde locks all awry. Dena followed suit. Abby blinked long andhard in the dark. She could vaguely make out the shape of her compainon beside her. Shesighed. "Sorry, did I disturb you?"
"No, I couldn't sleep either," Dena confessed in the darkness, her voice just alittle past Abby's ear. "My mind's still too awake."
"Yeah," Abby confessed, wondering if Dena still had the robe on her in the dark.She realised her perverted thought and shut her eyes in the darkness, hating herself forit. What was she, a lesbian? She had Peter back home. Or did she really want it?
Dena shifted herself in the dark to face Abby. She didn't want to hit the switch. That would ruin everything. "Dinar for your thoughts?" Now where did that expression come from?
"Dinar?" Abby laughed softly. She smiled and tried reaching out for Dena's handin the dark but found her breast instead. She immediately withdrew her hand. "You intoGreek culture?"
The brunette shrugged in the dark, trying to make out Abby's flustered face. "Just the ancient stories. Nothing much, really."
"Well, I've got to tell you this then," Abby perked up, her voice proud. "Mygrandaunt, she was one of the greatest archeologists ever lived!"
Dena let a slow smile crawl on her face. "Really?"
"Uh, yeah," Abby closed her eyes. "She found the Xena scrolls in Marcedonia,1940."
Dena paused immediately and sat right up. "The Xena scrolls?" She hissed.
"Yes, *the* Xena scrolls. She was Janice Covington." Abby added.
"J-Janice Covington?" Dena gasped. "Oh my." She slapped away her hand on her chest. It was such a sissy move. Ick. But she knew that name, hear it before many, many times in her youth. In her grandaunt Mel's storries.
"You've heard of her, haven't you?" Abby grinned in the dark. "Well, she was said to be a descendent of the famous Greek bard of Poteidaia-"
"Gabrielle." the two said together.
There was silence for awhile and with Abby around, silence was a very rare thing.It hung uncomfortably in the air. Abby cleared her throat, her eyebrows raisedgently in the dark. "Dena? How did you know?"
Dena laughed uncertainly. "Well, there aren't many great poets in Poteidia arethere?" Especially one which was a certain warrior princess' partner and companion and also rightful Queen of the Amazons. She was glad for the dark now, it hid her like a cloak.
Abby took in a deep breadth. "Dena, is there something you're not telling me?"
There was a slight pause then Dena decided to tell. Abby wouldn't laugh at hernow, would she? "My grandaunt was an archeologist too. She worked in Marcedonia in the1940s too. Her name was Mel. Melinda Pappas."
"Mel Pappas?" Abby felt as if an icy cold hand had given her heart a squeeze. She recongized that name. She had aided Janice Covington in their quest for the Xena scrolls. And now, she, a descendent of Gabrielle, had met another of Xena's descendents. It was such a small world!
"Yeah," Dena picked at the bedsheet. She had never disclosed so much to astranger before. She had never had anyone follow her and live before either. Was Abbyspecial? Yeah, she supposed so. They were connected, somehow.
"Then they knew each other," Abby realised, glad that she had followed Dena. Sheballed her fists. "They were friends! Like us."
"Maybe more than that," Dena said simply. But that mere statement left Abby thinking alot even after Dena went to sleep.
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Abby finally fell into slumber but in doing so, found herself caught in awierd dream. She had never seen old grandaunt Janice before, she was born some yearsafter her death. But through old yellowed photographs, Abby knew they were cut fromthe same cloth. They looked pretty much the same, just that Abby never smoked andhad no idea how to crack a whip or use a gun.
But right now, she knew her dream was not taking place anywhere in the present. It had to be in the past, somewhere before her time. Abby found herselfin a dark place. It looked like some ancient tomb, with its crumbling ruins. Shestopped short in the flickering darkness when she thought she saw someone ahead ofher. She frowned but proceeded on.
"Hello," a smooth voice coming from a shadow called out. It blew out ringsof cigar smoke, the end of its cigar glowing a brilliant ornage in the dark. Abbytried making it out who it was but she had no idea. The figure stepped out of theshadows and into the sallow yellow light.
Abby saw herself starring back at her. She gasped. The appariation beforeher was garbed in tough archeologist gear. She tied her blonde ponytail back in aclasp and had an Indiana Jones hat over her face. She was chomping on a cigar andher lips were twisted in a grin. Abby realised that they had the same green eyes.
"W-who are you?" Abby backed away from the woman before her. It couldn'tbe Janice Covington, could it? Why would she appear in her dream? Abby backed awayand bumped into someone behind her. She uttered a gasp and whirled around, meaning to see who it was but she only saw a dark figure. "Who's there?"
"It's only me, Gabrielle," another lookalike emerged from the shadows, showing her face in the harsh yellow light. She was dressed in a green blouse showing off her flat abs and a short skirt that complimented her shapely legs. She was nothing like Janice Covington who stood behind her dressed in men's clothing. "Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you."
"Gab- Gabrielle?" Abby asked uncertainly, her mind misty. She held herhands to the sides of her head, trying to figure what was going on. "Wait, what'sgoing on here?"
Janice Covington walked from behind her and stood beside the Amazon bard,the lighted cigar between skilfull fingers. "We're ancestors of yours, Abby. Andwe wanted to talk to you about... certain details."
"Certain details?" Abby raised her eyebrows, looking from Janice to Gabrielle. "What certain details?"
Gabrielle smoothened her short skirt and looked up, her green eyes lockedon her descendent's own. Yes, they were certainly family. "Abby, the Fates havedecided. You and a descendent of Xena's will play our roles. Fighting for thegreater good."
"You mean with Dena?" Abby asked. Dena was related with Melinda Pappaswho was a descendent of the infamous chakram carrying warrior princess afterall."Dena Ambers?"
"Yes, exactly," Janice Covington nodded, replacing the stogie betweenher lips. She grinned like she liked the sound of her name. "Dena Ambers."
"So this is some sort of quest, striving for the greater good in thepresent ages." Abby realised, thrilled that she was the chosen. "Cool."
"Now don't go sounding like Ares," Abby warned about the Greek god ofwar. "Now remember Abby, you've gotta stick to Dena no matter what. You've gotlots of things to learn from each other."
Abby nodded, pleased with the vision. "Okay, I'm game."
"Is Mel's appointment over?" Janice growled, finishing her cigar. "We'vegot some... agreement on and I'm in a hurry."
Gabrielle smiled. She had a similiar appointment with Xena too. "Sheshould be done now. Come along now, Janice and goodbye Abby. Good luck."
The two disappeared into the shadows, as if by evaporation. Abby was leftstanding all alone. She was wondering what to do and where to go when suddenly the floor beneath her fell opened and she felt herself fall forever.
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Somewhere in Dena's dream...
Dena Ambers found herself in her day clothes, armed with her gun under herleather jacket, a throw knife in her boot with some metallic miniture boomerang-like throwing discs hidden under her sleeve. Argo was parked beside her and she had her shades on. Looking around, Dena found herself out of place. She was on an old wooden bridge, right smack on the middle of it and under her was a great abysis. What in Tartarus was she doing there?
"H-hello Dena," a feminine voice said uncertainly. Dena turned her head tothe direction of the woman's voice and found an uncomfortable woman in 40s styleclothing. She wore glasses and her dark hair was tied up in a bun. "I'm Mel. MelPappas."
Dena leaned against Argo and the bridge shifted a little, making the scrambling translator stumble for a good hold on the rickety old bridge. She lookedflustered, as if she was not used to this. Dena removed her dark glasses and smiledat the bumbling woman. "Mel? As in Melinda Pappas?"
"Yes, technically also your grandaunt, mother's side," Mel tried soundingdignified, with a hand on her heaving chest. She was trying to calm herself, Denasupposed. Mel Pappas looked over Dena's shoulder and her eyes went wide. Her lipstrembled and she whispered. "Oh my."
Dena whirled around, waiting to find some enemy to attack. She drew hergun from her jacket, ready to shoot when something landed directly behind her. Shestiffened when she felt a warrior grasp her shoulder and gave a short chuckle."No need for that, Dena."
Dena turned around, her jaw locked and her eyes ablaze. She was about tothrow herself at the new comer when she dropped her jaw in surprise. Standingbefore her was a stunning woman almost six feet in height with a powerful frameto match. Her well toned body was evident. The well known warrior woman wasdressed in her armour, metal chest plate and all. Her infamous chakram gleamedat her side. "Xena?"
"In the flesh," the warrior princess grinned with a toss of her head. Mel came over, her arms by her sides, afriad to fall. She stood behind Xena andhuffed in her petty woman way. "And thank you very much, Warrior Princess, forthat dramatic enterence. You could've killed us all."
"Mel, you can't die again if you're already dead," Xena muttered dryly,as if she was no fun. She truly wondered if she really was her descendent andnot of one of her lookalikes'. She would have fitted Princess Diane's catergoryperfectly. Sheesh.
"I thought as much," Dena crossed her powerful arms and studied her twofamous ancestors. "What's the plan?"
"She's smart," Xena turned to Melinda, pleased.
"Yes, well..." Mel nodded in agreement as she adjusted her frames.
"What's the deal guys?" Dena questioned. "What's this board meeting for?"
Xena got into business again and straightened up. Mel stood at attention,her gaze fixed on the warrior who looked like she was just about to begin a speech.Dena raised an eyebrow questioningly. She was waiting...
"You come from the line of Xena, and you've been chosen, in this lifetime,to fight for the greater good. There will be many challenges for you and yourcompanion on this journey but stick together and you will help mankind," Xenatold her. Then she quietly added. "And atone for your past mistakes."
"Companion?" Dena frowned. "Who?"
Mel answered the question eagerly. "She will come from the line of Gabrielle. Either directly or indirectly."
"You mean Abby?" Dena wrinkled her nose at the name of th little, innocent teenager. She didn't like the sound of the kid poking her nose into all this fighting-for-the-greater-good business. "You've gotta be kidding. She's not--"
"Don't you under-estimate her," Xena warned,"That kid's tougher than shelooks." She smiled at their similiarities. Dena was like the modern version of herself. And the deeds will be the same. The Fates were reliving Gabrielle andXena's lives in their chosen descendents. On the quest for the greater good.
Dena shrugged but she knew Xena had to be right. She nearly always wasanyway. "All right."
Mel smiled. "Great, now Xena, can we get back to the fields?"
"The fields?" Dena perked up. "As in the Elysian Fields?"
"Yes it still exist, Dena," Xena told her. "Just maybe called other namesby other people of different tribes... er, places."
"Then you've seen Lucas?" Dena urged.
"Once or twice," the warrior told her. "He's a *very* lucky guy."
Dena had to digest what she meant a little. She watched them leave, as ifvia evaporation into thin mists of air then she was all alone on the bridge withArgo. She heard a sudden shattering creak then lost her balance momentarily. Shehad hardly scrambled back up again when she saw a part of the rickety bridge breakaway and she fell headlong below, her hands clawing wildly.
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"AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Abby screamed as she boltedupright in bed, her PJs soaked in cold sweat. It was only a dream, she swallowed,only a dream.
"AAAAAAaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghhhhh!" Dena screamed wildly beside her before kickingtheir shared blanket to the floor and sitting upright in a dazed state. Her hair wasall awiry as if she had just hiked through a forest.
They looked at each other. "AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuugggggghhhhhhhhh!"
It was almost seven in the morning and the early rays of sunshine entered through their window. It would be light soon. A sleepy eyed Celine burst through the door, plastic curlers still in her hair. "What? What happened?"
Abby and Dena paused, both looking confused and sleepy eyed. Then Dena chuckled sheepishly. "Ah, just a bad dream." Abby agreed with her.
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They got ready to leave right after their early breakfast with Celinedownstairs. Abby helped get their supplies ready while letting Dena spend sometime with her mother before they left.
"You could stay here a little longer, Dena," Celine told her daughteras she engulfed her grown child in a mother-daughter hug. "There's no rush,is there?"
Dena smiled sadly as she slowly pulled away, her gaze still lingeringon her mother's gentle features. "You know I have to leave, Mother."
"Yes," Celine sighed. "I understand."
Dena clasped her hand on her mother's shoulder and squeezed it gently."Thank you."
Celine watched as her daughter left the restaurant, her stride confidentand secure as she went around to her engine where Abby was waiting, gunned it and rode away. Please watch over her Lucas, Celine prayed silently as she watch her daughter leave.
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DISCLAIMER:============The 3 characters portrayed by Renee O'Connor have got nothing to do with acertain "three naked Gabrielles". Street pigeons were harmed and placed betweenslices of bread.
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Yep, this is my first attempt at writing an uber series with Dena and Abby asXena and the Gabster's decendents. There'll be more adventures of the duo so stickaround and be nice. All kind comments to go to amazon_moon@yahoo.com, thank you. Itwould be great if you, as the reader, could drop a note or say hello. :-)
All right then, happy holidays, may your X'mas be merry and Xenatized! Untilnext time, battle on good citizens! Amazon Moon 1998C.