Convergence

Convergence

by Kandis Glasgow

Disclaimers: Coffee is a good thing! I just thought I would throw that in there. Can someone please tell my why it is that my cat needed to be in the other room right NOW! Odd. But then again, she is a cat. Anyway, Xena, Gabrielle, Jan, Mel, and Ephiny don't belong to me. I am borrowing them. I would rent them if I could afford it. (That has interesting implications:) Candace, Taylor, Terra and Skye are mine. They all live in my little head and tell me what to write. AND boy they can get soooo out of hand! How do you think the four of 'them' ended up where they did? I am not getting paid for this, but I am getting great e-mails. Thanks to all of you who have written to me. I have met some really great friends through them. Don't be shy! Let me know what you think! UgoXena@aol.com

Sex Disclaimer: I think the sex is on hold, but the loooooove never is! It's love between eight of the hottest women you could ever hope to meet! If love between women is going to get you in trouble try to avoid them. Love between women has made life a living hell for me on more than one occasion, so I'll understand if you want to avoid this. If you are a young little whipper-snapper you should avoid this like the plague, but this won't kill you. The plague will.

Language: Yep! Damn it! You know who swears enough for the rest of them. If foul language offends you, stay away from the ducks. Oh wait, that's fowl language. Never mind.

Violence : I am only making a guess here, but I am pretty sure with a pissed off assassin in our midst we'll see some death and destruction.

Really bad man doing bad things warning: If the thought of an evil abusive man abusing a sweet wonderful girl, (Skye) distresses you, there is one section to avoid. I will put a series of stars **** at the beginning of that section so that you may avoid it. It is not imperative to the story, but it gives insight into the evil nature of our antagonist.

Spoilers: Oh baby! They're everywhere! Amazons, Hades, warlords, Xena, Gabrielle, Mel and Jan. Ephiny. A veritable plethora! (Oooh Such big words.)

I dedicate this installment to all those who lost friends and family in the tragedies of Oklahoma City and Columbine High School. This week marks the fifth anniversary of Oklahoma and the first of Columbine. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

It really gets serious (but not too serious) from here until the end. Bear with us as we struggle through! Thanks for reading!

Part 14

Four weary travelers stood at the edge of a large body of water. Xena eyed the surrounding brush, searching for a good place to stash their gear. They couldn't very well leave their goods on the shore without a guard of some sort. The mighty warrior searched until she found an appropriate spot.

"Over here, guys." She nudged her chin forward as she guided Argo to the spot and dismounted.

"Xe? Can we rest before we try this? I'm dead. I'm afraid I would never make the swim." Gabrielle plunked her body to the ground.

The two remaining women implored the tireless warrior with unspoken exhaustion. Her heart went out to her friends. Truth be told she was tired as well. "Good idea. We'll rest until sundown."

"What about the horses? What do we do with them?" Janice dismounted and eased herself the eternal distance to the ground.

"Let them go. Argo and Bard will keep the other two nearby." Xena pulled her pack off Argo's hind end and pushed it toward Gabrielle. "Sweetheart, can you see what we have for food in here?"

Gabrielle started to stand but was stopped by the tall professor. "You rest, deah. Ah was fixin' to check as it was. Ah do believe it's my turn to cook." Kind blue eyes caught the gratitude thrown her way by a very weary Regent. She took the pack from Xena with a kind smile. Xena was more than grateful.

"Thanks, Mel. For some reason I'm bushed." The fatigued bard leaned back on her hands.

"That mind and soul stuff's got ya'll in a mess. You and Xena rest while Jan and Ah get dinner prepared." Melinda gave her lover the 'you don't have a choice in this' look. Jan didn't have a mind to argue.

Melinda had a small fire started when Jan returned from the woods with two good sized rabbits in one hand and several different types of tubers in the other.

"Nicely done, love. You have turned into quiet the suahvivalist. If and when we eveah get home, I shall suahly nevah stahve." She took the small animals from her lover for dressing.

Jan blushed slightly at the praise. "Can't imagine that I will have to hunt in the A&P, babe. I have a feeling the manager might not take too kindly to me aiming my bow and arrows around in the meat section." She laughed at her own humor.

The professor laughed quietly with her lover. Mel's eyes wandered to her friends as her wife to be sat down next to her. "Look at those two. Sound asleep. They look so peaceful, don't they?"

Jan observed the tall and small forms of her friends wrapped protectively around one another. "They look peaceful, but you know inside is shear turmoil. I have to say the Skye thing is sure as shit takin' a bite outta me. DO you think they'll get her back before....... I don't even want to think about it." Jan hung her head. The thought of what things lay in store for Skye if she weren't rescue made her sick.

"Terra is verah talented at what she does. The entiah army is in dangah with her on the loose. Ah pray that she is rescued before anythin' happens." Her heart wrenched in her chest at the thought of her student, friend and soulmate in danger of abuse.

The words had Jan asking a question in her mind. "Can I ask you something, Belle?"

Melinda frowned. Whenever Jan asked if she could ask it was always sticky. "Janice, aftah all this time, you should know that you can ask me anythin'."

"How do you qualify your belief in God with the facts that the Gods exist?"

"Hum. Good question. Ah nevah disbelieved the possibility of the existence of othah Gods, but Ah was raised Southern Baptist. That type of up bringin' doesn't fade away in seven lifetimes. As fah as I am concerned the God Ah follow is top God." She laughed at her words. "Along with that, too many times in my life, supahnatural intervention eithah save my life or changed it. Ah truly believe that God brought me you. Not Aphrodite. Not Ahtemis. You ah my God send." The tall professor turned her blue eyes on her lover. "Ah love you, Jan. With every single beat of my heaht Ah do. It's because of that love that Ah have to believe somethin' othah than the mess they call the Gods, runs this thing."

"I see your point. Nice to know you think I'm a miracle." She sent a beaming grin at her fiancée.

Melinda's soft hand found the smiling cheek of her lover. "That you ah." Mel leaned in to steal a kiss from her blonde doctor.

Jan returned the kiss with a vengeance. She found it was the very best way to soothe her nerves and bring her closer to Melinda's soul. She had to admit to herself that she was scared. Frightened for Skye. Frightened knowing that the possibility she could lose Melinda was very real. At least they weren't going up against a bunch of soldiers with swords. Hell, they were only going to hell.

"Can't leave you two alone for a minute can we?" Xena's sparkling blue eyes danced with humor and understanding.

"If you would, we could do more than just this. Catch my drift?"

"Like flying parchment. No, wait. That's a draft. Yeah, smart ass, I get it. Unfortunately, we don't have that long." She bent over the pot taking a deep sniff. "That smells wonderful. Let's eat and then you two get some rest. And I mean REST! Catch my drift?"

"You just love to spoil ouah fun, Miss Xena. You and I will have words about this latah." Mel jibed her friend.

"Promise? I'll be looking forward to it." She smiled the trademark smile at her and Melinda gave it right back. "Think I should wake her?"

"No. Let her sleep, Xe. As tired as she was she needs the rest. Ah'll save out a couple of bowls for her. Wouldn't want ouah Regent starvin', now would we."

"If she doesn't get the rest she needs, she'll be cranky, too. Gods, we'd die with a hungry cranky Gabrielle on out hands. Been there. Done that!" Xena knew all too well not to let Gabrielle get either tired or hungry. It seemed to bring about some sort of demon possession. It was a situation she would avoid at all costs.

"I have as well, Warrioah. I as well." The two women didn't hold back their laughter.

Janice crossed her arms and waited for the hyenas to stop laughing. "Haha. So funny I forgot to laugh."

"Oh, Jan. Lighten up. You have never had to live with you tired and hungry. Why Ah'd rathah bathe a feisty cat than be around you when youah cranky. Lord, have mercy!" She flopped her wrist at the doctor.

Xena laughed harder at the face Jan was making.

"That's it. Laugh it up, warrior. But when you're looking for someone to cover your ass, don't come cryin' ta me!"

Xena wiped a tear from her eye. "Jan, honey. I don't mean to laugh at you, but you two are so alike it's just funny."

"Funny, my hairy ass! She's a girl!"

"Who you calling a girl there, Janice?" Gabrielle had her arms crossed and the royal foot was doing a rapid tap dance. It wasn't the old soft shoe.

Jan's eyes bugged out. Melinda shook her head while Xena scratched the back of hers. This should be interesting.

"I uh...you see.." She wished at that moment that she could find a nice slimy rock to climb under. It would be more comfortable that the position she was in at the moment.

"Oh yeah. I see perfectly. Do you think I am less than you, Jan? Do you think I can't fight as well as you? Do you think I should be doing the dishes and rubbing your feet every night. Keeping my proper place? Hum?" The irritated Regent was about to show the good doctor what a cranky, tired, hyped up Gabrielle could be like. "Well?"

"Uh. No?" Jan looked for a retreat but found neither shelter nor sympathy.

"Is that a question or a statement?" She was warming up for the kill.

"Neither."

Gabrielle walked up to face Janice toe to toe. With a finger to the doctor's chest she emphasized each point with a poke. "I have news for you, Janice. Girls Kick Ass! And don't you forget it! Got it?" Green eyes sparked with dignified fire.

Jan raised her eyebrows high enough to give her a headache. If her mother were still alive she would say that if she wasn't careful they would get stuck there. "Yeah. I got it."

"GOOD!" She poked Jan one more time for added memory incentive. While she left Janice totally dumbfounded, she turned her attention to Melinda. "What's for dinner?" She smiled and winked at her friend. They were so good and so in charge.

Xena stuck her tongue in her cheek as far as she could. Some women never learned, but Janice Covington just got a lesson in underestimating the power of a girl.

"Rabbit stew. Our chauvinist over there did some hunting while we were asleep." Xena got her measure of teasing in.

"Well, she is good for something." Gabrielle spoke in a teasing manner. Jan shot her a look anyway. She was pushing it. "I'm sorry. Paybacks can be hell! Can't they?"

"Yeah. Burning and everlasting." The entire crew laughed and any tension that was hanging around was broken.

"You two eat and then get some rest. Gab, are you alright, or do you think you need some more rest?"

"Let's eat then I'll let you know."

Filled dishes were passed all around. The four women seemed lost in their own thoughts. This was as adventure in mystery. Xena knew that every trip to Tartarus was different. This was bound to be the most interesting and trying trip she had ever made there. They had discussed many times what they could expect on their rescue. It came down to this. They all needed two gold coins. One to get in and one to get out if they got that far. After that anything could happen. Now on top of their little adventure, one of the eight was missing in time. They couldn't concentrate much of their thoughts on Skye at the moment. The last thing they needed was to be distracted. Xena trusted the abilities of Taylor and Candace. If there was any one person she thought had the skills to infiltrate the security of Creighton's camp it was Terra. They would get her back.

When Jan and Mel lay down to rest, Xena was still deep in thought. Her gaze stared deeply into the orange of the flames, seemingly mesmerized.

"Xe?".

A soft voice wafted across the chasm of Xena's thoughts. "Hum?"

"Where are you?" The bard sat down beside her wife.

"I'm right here. Am I invisible?" Xena looked around at her body in mock curiosity.

"Not yet." Gabrielle giggled. "No, silly. I meant what are you thinking about?" She leaned her head against a strong shoulder.

"Everything." She really didn't know where to begin.

"Wow! That's a lot to think about. You never cease to amaze me!" The bard patted the warrior's leg.

"You are full of it today, aren't you?" Xena grabbed her wife and pulled her to her lap.

"Just today?" Gabrielle kissed her wife's neck.

"OK always. I was letting my mind wander over all of the things that are going on right now. What happens if we succeed? How do you feel about me having a child?" It was a worry she didn't realize she had.

"Xena, I'll love your child as if it were my own." Gabrielle implored Xena with loving emerald eyes.

"She will be yours, Gabrielle. Any children we have will be raised by both of us. You're my wife, remember? What's mine is yours, including children."

"Alright! I got it made! You do know I married you for your money." She laughed sweetly.

"So if I ever die you'll get all of four dinars and a horse you don't like. Good choice, my love!" Xena smiled at the thought. They had many things but overabundance of wealth wasn't one of them.

Gabrielle became very quiet. "If you ever die, no amount of money in the world could make up for my loss."

"You did die, and you are so very right. Had you not brought Candace to me, I would never have learned to live again." Xena drew her wife closer to her. She could never imagine losing Gabrielle again. She had the love of two other women, but they could never touch the place Gabrielle held in her soul.

"We have both died one too many times. Let's not try again, OK?" The bard stroked the high cheekbone of her warrior.

"Deal. Wanna lay down with me? I think I need a nap." The tall woman tried to conceal a yawn.

"Lay down with you? Ummm. Sounds dangerous." Gabrielle placed her lips possessively on her lover's mouth.

Xena returned the passion with some of her own. Several moments passed before the connection broke. "As much as I would love to take you up on your offer, we need a real nap. Not one of the, "Gosh I'm so sleepy......yawn...wink, wink," naps."

"Oh alright." The bad changed the subject. "You know she's scared." Gabrielle was having a hard time putting the feelings behind her.

"Yeah. I know. Can you talk to her?"

"All I can do is try. I think Jan or Mel has a better chance, but I'll give it a try." She moved to her bedroll and closed her eyes. Xena joined her. Together they sought out the small girl they had grown to love.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Fear gripped the small blonde's heart as she came to. She felt she had been drugged but the grogginess in her head refused to give up the details of the past few hours. Her shoulders ached and she was cold. She shook her head again trying to clear her vision. She tired to reach a hand to her eyes but she discovered her hand was restrained. She yanked against the ropes but they were tight and refused to give. She tried to move her legs and found her ankles were bound as well. She was dazedly trying to assess her situation. Her body was upright, bound spread eagle to a frame of wooden posts. She looked down at herself and realized why she was so cold. She was naked.

The tent where she was being held was quite large and well furnished. The fire pit was growing dim making it hard for her to see the details. Tears formed in her eyes as she figured her fate. She prayed to whatever higher power there was to remove her from this place. She knew why she had been taken. She just hoped that if she lived through it that Terra would still love her.

Her soul dropped knowing that she would likely never see her lover again. She felt it would be better if she died anyway. She could never go back to Terra after this. She would never dream to put her soulmate through the humiliation of having to try to accept damaged goods. She had taken her once. She couldn't see the forgiveness twice.

There was a sudden rush in room and she closed her eyes.

"Skye?"

The familiar voice gave her the lift of hope she so desperately needed. Her eyes opened quickly, searching the room for her friend. "Miss Gabrielle? Where are you?"

"You can't see me, and I can't stay long. Terra's on her way, Skye."

"It'll be too late." The tear that brimmed her eye a moment before trailed down her soft cheek and fell on her naked breast.

"They won't kill you Skye. Not yet." Gabrielle held urgency in her voice. She didn't want Skye to give up.

"They might as well. Terra won't want....I can't do that to her. Miss Gabrielle!" She had no words to convey her feelings of despair.

"Skye, you've listened to me before, listen now. She loves you more than life itself. She will love you through anything." The Regent knew Terra's heart and tried to convey that emotion to Skye for her.

"Not after this. I won't let her." She was determined in her own mind.

"Don't take your love from her. She'll die without you. Just hold on, baby. She'll save you." Gabrielle put as much passion into her thought as she could.

"I hope you're right." Skye was trying to hold on to any hope.

"I have to go, sweetheart. Remember we love you no matter what." She placed mental arms around her friend.

"Tell her to hurry! I'm scared." Tears flowed freely from her swollen eyes.

"I know. I love you, Skye." Gab's voice faded.

The presence was gone and Skye was alone again. She closed her eyes and prayed as hard as she could. Surely someone had to hear the petition of a pure heart. For her sake, someone did.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

"Terra, you have to follow us first. When we surround the perimeter it will cause enough of a distraction for you to go in." Taylor was getting nowhere with this.

"NO! I'm going alone and I'm going now!" Terra was stubborn and angry at having to wait. The sun was almost up and they were still waiting.

"No, Ter. You're not. You don't know where Creighton's tent is. We do." The firefighter remained calm as she tried common sense on a women who refused to listen.

"That won't help me either way. I'll find it. It's what I do." The stubborn steak that was an inborn trait was becoming an irritant.

"Yeah it will, because we're going in with you." Candace stared back at Terra when she tried to back her off.

"I go alone. You will hinder my movements." The anger she was carrying was making clear thinking hide in the corners of her mind. She knew better, she just wasn't listening.

"We will create a diversion near the tent. You go in then." Taylor was giving her the plan she would follow, or else.

"I don't need a distraction." Terra was adamant.

"You will if you expect to get into this camp. I don't care how good you are. You'll get caught if you go alone. If that happens, Skye is dead. Do you understand what I am saying?" Candace was butting her head against a brick wall.

Terra just stared at her with ice cold eyes.

"If something does happen to you, who's going to get her out? Or hadn't you thought about that?" Taylor caught her by the shoulder to look right into the fire of Terra's blue eyes.

"Fine, but do not get in my way or question my methods. If people die it's only because they get in my way." Terra turned her gaze to face Candace.

Candace raised her eyebrows. "We'll be sure to stay out of your way."

Terra was immediately regretful. "I am so sorry, Miss Candace, I didn't mean it that way. What I meant was that I will kill them without a thought. Do you see? I don't have the merciful heart that the rest of you have. Not when it comes to Skye."

Her heart was as broken as Skye's at the moment. If she closed her eyes she could touch her soulmate. *Hang on, Skye. I'm coming!* She had spent part of the short night with Candace's comforting arms wrapped around her. Taylor had been wrapped around Candace, but none of them had gotten much sleep. Finally, Terra had gotten up to stare out the window searching for her lover. For several hours there had been no inkling of her and Terra feared her dead. At last, perhaps an hour ago, she had felt her and the need to reach her was overwhelming.

"You can bet that I would have little love loss for anyone who would dare to touch any of you, let alone Candace. We will get to her, Ter. I swear." Taylor pulled Terra in for a hug then placed a Xena like kiss on her forehead. She released her, allowing Terra to put on her game face.

"Let's get to the square. Get your gear, babe. Terra do you want a weapon?" The new commander addressed her charge.

"No. I have everything I need." The look on her face showed that all she needed was her fierce determination.

Candace and Taylor shared a look. "Terra, go see if you can find Jules. Tell her we'll be right there."

Terra gave them a knowing look. "I wish I could have told her."

"She knows." Candace walked to Terra, placed a hand on her forearm and kissed her cheek. "She knows. Now go let them know we're on our way."

"As you wish, Miss Candace." Terra nodded and let herself out.

She hadn't call her Your Highness, or bowed, or done any of the other things the rest of the camp did. But one thing was for sure, there was more love and respect in those words than in all of the actions of the Amazons combined.

Candace turned to her lover. Taylor took the small regent in her arms. "You've done this before, Cand. Was it this hard then?"

"This is harder. Listen Taylor, you know I love you. Corny as it sounds, those words pale in comparison to the feelings I have for you. You are my completion. Yes, I love Xena and I love Gabrielle, but you, you are the very heart within my chest. Please, be careful. I don't think I could stand to lose you. If anything happens to me...." Taylor looked away as tears formed in her blue eyes. "Tay? If anything happens, let them love you in my place. Do you understand?"

"I can't think of losing you, Candace. My heart and soul would die without you. I waited so damn long to find you.....I." Tears flowed freely from the brave warrior.

"Taylor, live for me, OK? Promise?" Tears rimmed her bright green eyes.

Taylor cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes. "I will if you will."

"I swear, anyone hurts you and they're dead meat!" She smiled at her lover through tears. "I promise."

Taylor bent to Candace and kissed her soulmate as if it were the very last time. Nothing ever would or even could come between them. Not even death.

"Let's go, Commander."

"After you, your Highness."

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

The damp travelers made their way to the shore of Styx and waited for the boat.

"Everyone have their coin?" Melinda was such the mother. "Anyone need to go before we get on?"

"Mel, that's enough." Jan fidgeted on her feet.

"Are you nervous, sweetheart?" Melinda knew her future wife was worried about something.

"No." It was a no that said yes.

Xena smiled. "Don't worry, Doc. This is the easy part."

"Does the boat rock much?" The truth came out.

Gabrielle wanted to burst out laughing. She wasn't the only on who got seasick. "Don't worry, Jan. It's not like a regular boat ride. It's a floating kind of thing."

"You sure?" For the first time since they had gotten there, Janice sounded unsure of herself.

"Trust me." She had never been on the boat but had heard stories.

"I did that and look where it got me." The archeologist tried to look around in a professional manner. "I always figured I'd wind up here."

"Sweetheart, you're so ornery even the Devil himself won't have you." The softhearted professor comforted her lover.

"Who?" Xena shook her head at the name.

"Satan? The Devil. Beelzebub." Janice rattled off a list of a.k.a.'s for Lucifer.

"Never heard of 'em." Xena searched the horizon for the craft of Charon.

"You will." Melinda knew their run in with the minions of hell would always be a sticking point in their lives.

"Here he comes." The warrior inclined her head for them to prepare.

The boat glided eerily up to the shore. The creature manning the helm was as far from human as either Mel or Jan had ever seen. They both stared. Xena and Gabrielle strolled toward the boat a the other two stood firmly in place.

"You again?" He pointed at Xena.

"Yep. We have to stop meeting like this." The warrior smiled at him.

"Good. A sense of humor. Got your coin?"

"Of course." The rotting being held a hand out to the warrior as she dropped the coin in his palm. The coin disappeared at the touch.

Xena stepped up to the ship then turned to her lover.

"This is Gabrielle." Xena put her hand out to the small blonde. Gabrielle accepted the offered hand and stepped up to the deck.

"Duh. I'm like Santa Clause. I know everybody." He may be unattractive but he was funny.

"Nice to meet you. You don't look anything like Santa Clause." Gabrielle handed him her coin

"Really? And here I thought we were twins." His blackened teeth shown with his grimaced smile. It was an awful sight but amusing.

"Who is Santa Clause?" Xena looked very confused.

"I'll explain it on the ride, babe." The bard patted her arm.

The Ferryman glanced over at the frozen women on the shoreline. "What's with them?"

"Not sure. Hey! Doc. Mel! Let's go!" Xena waved at them.

"OH! Yeah, Jan? JAN! Let's go." Melinda tugged at her lover's shirtsleeve

"Nope. Not going." The doctor pulled away.

"What? Why?" The professor didn't understand the problem.

"Look at him. He's taking us in there." She pointed at the deep cavern.

Melinda frowned at Jan. "Yeah, that's the whole idea."

"But he looks like that guy from that movie… you know, umm...I can't remember." The old young doctor stood contemplating.

"Beetlejuice." Charon answered her.

"You know him?" Jan was shocked.

"Nope. Saw the movie. You two goin' or what? There are real dead people waiting for me."

"Alright. You're not going to kill us, are you?" Jan was serious in her question.

"Why would I do that?" He looked confused. Most of the people that came to him were already dead. Killing was not his office.

"Not sure. You look shifty." Jan squinted.

Mel stifled a laugh. Her lover was a hoot.

"So do you. You sure you won't kill me?" He furrowed his brows at her mockingly.

She pointed at her chest. "I look shifty? You looked in a mirror lately?"

"Don't have much chance for that down here, Jan." He used her name to relax her a bit.

She stepped up to the side of the craft and handed him her coin. "Ya outta take a peek sometime."

"You think some rouge and maybe a little mascara will do me wonders, is that it?" The pilot of the ship fluffed at his hair.

"Couldn't hurt." She laughed and hopped over the edge.

"C'mon, Mel. Let's get this thing on the move."

"Comin', deah." She handed her coin to the Ferryman and he held a hand out to her. She grasped it and it came off in her hand. She looked at it and then back to him. "Ah......Ah...oh my." She handed it back to him.

He took it from her and without thinking put it back on backward. He held his hand out again but the grip was facing in the wrong direction. "Sorry about that." He pulled it off again and put attached it in the correct Gray's Anatomy position. "Gotta get that fixed." He turned to the women on the boat and winked with a rotten grin. The three women on board either turned to laugh or covered their mouth to stifle one.

With Melinda securely on board he turned to Xena. "Where to?"

"We're looking for Time."

"Aren't we all." He shook his head with a laugh. "Sorry. You see, I'm the last thing people happen on before they spend eternity under some kind of torture. Gotta keep it light." He nodded and thought for a split second. "Time, huh? He came through here with Ares. I can take you to where I dropped them off. After that it's up to you."

"How do we get out of here once we find him?" Jan was really worried about being stuck in this God forsaken place.

"Not to worry, Jan. I'll come get you, but the fare is double to get out." Charon eyed the small doctor.

"Xe? Have we got the fare?" Jan was suddenly shot with concern.

"Fare? For what?" She was going to play this.

"WAIT! I'm not going unless we can get out of here!" Jan about jumped out of the boat into the surrounding water.

"Yes, Doc. I have the fare." Xena let her off the hook.

"DON'T DO that!" Jan slapped Xena's arm.

"But you are so easy!" The warrior slapped her arm in return.

"I'll be the judge of that!" The professor smiled.

"Shall we?" Charon pointed forward.

"Get us to the other side, Charon. We have work to do." Xena leaned back on the rail.

Work was an understatement.

********(See disclaimers)

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Skye felt the presence of another within the darkened room. She couldn't see him but the impression was unmistakable. Her body shivered in reaction to the proximity of the evil. Bumps of fear and trepidation raised along her skin. Against her will her nipples hardened.

"Hello, to you as well, Skye." Creighton's face wrinkled with a lewd smile.

She was silent in her hatred of him.

"Oh, you don't need to speak. I can see how badly you want me." His callused fingers flicked across a swollen nub.

"Don't!" She spat her reaction to his touch.

"Come now. You used to treat me with such respect. I can't believe that you have lost all those sweet feelings for me." He circled around her like the predator he was.

"I hate you! I hated you then! I hate you now! Bastard!" Green eyes spit darts of fire.

He slapped her hard across the face. His foul breath mixed with spittle as he leaned into her fair face. He grasped her nipple tightly in his fingers to get her attention. She cried out in pain. "Listen bitch! I am the one in charge here! You can make this easy or I can make you wish that you were dead. You decide." He increased the pressure in his hand until Skye screamed in agony. An evil smile crossed his lips again.

There was a sparkle of light that lit up the room. A large man dressed in leather stood silently waiting for the warlord to acknowledge him. He was about done with this clown.

"Yo. Dipstick! Wanna let go of the whore for a minute?" Ares looked at Skye and nodded his appreciation. The warriors certainly had good taste in women. And he didn't mean the loser in the tent with him.

"Ares, do we need to do this now? I was just getting started." The tall blonde fondled his hardening member with his free hand. He loved the masochistic control he was experiencing. The beauty before him was so tender it excited him beyond measure. He desired nothing more than to totally abuse her in every fashion imaginable.

"I can see that. We have work to do first. So, put your Johnson on hold for a bit. She'll be here when you get back." Ares crossed his muscular arms.

Creighton gave the war God a hard stare with his dark brown eyes. Ares was serious. "Very well." He turned to address the small restrained blonde. "I guess you'll have to wait for my charms." He slapped Skye again for good measure causing the cut on her lip to reopen sending blood trailing across her chin, down to her neck. He kissed her hard, licking the blood off as he went. The taste aroused him even more. With a growl of desire still on his lips, Creighton grabbed the Glass and disappeared with a man dressed in leather.

Skye thanked God for the reprieve even as she spit the evil warlord's taste to the ground.

She screamed. "Terra! Please!"

The warrior felt her cry. She was on her way.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

"This is it huh?" Xena looked around.

"This is where Ares had me drop them off. Where they went from here I have no idea. Tartarus is as big as the world you know. All I can say is leave a marker so you can find your way back."

"Hansel and Gretel." Melinda started in with a fairy tale while letting herself over the railing.

"But let's not use bread crumbs." Gabrielle kept it up.

"How many birds do you think are down here?" Jan put it all together as she jumped overboard.

Xena looked around at the three women with a blank stare. "Who?"

"It's a children's story, honey. I'll tell you later." Gabrielle swung her legs over the side and let herself down.

"Is it like that Santa Clause story? What a bizarre thing that is. I'd bust some heads they come down my chimney." She nodded curtly for emphasis.

"Xena, he's deliverin' gifts. Ya'll don't want to bust his head." Melinda tried to make the warrior understand that he was not breaking and entering.

"Yeah, well it sounds freaky ta me. Bowl full a jelly, my ass." Xena jumped over the railing to the soft ground.

"My thoughts exactly." Jan agreed whole heartedly. "You should hear about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. That'll give ya nightmares."

"Oh Jan, you're afraid of clowns, of courahs the Easteah Bunny is gonna scare the livin' daylights outta you." Melinda knew her lover's weaknesses.

"Shall we go now?" The doctor was done with the conversation.

"Which way?" Gabrielle turned around taking in the view of the huge cavern. It had it's own luminescent quality making torches unnecessary. The walls were straight up and down with no hand or foot holds. If one were stuck here there was no chance of climbing out. The water, if it really was water, was waveless and glass like. Gabrielle bent to touch it with her finger. There was no feel to it. No ripples went out when she moved her hand. It was as if it was and yet was not. She pulled her hand out to observe that her fingers were not wet. Strange. It was like air.

"Let's ask." Melinda suggested.

"Whom shall we ask?" Xena glanced around for anyone that was not original to the group.

"Him. Her? It. That theah." She pointed to what appeared to be the cavern wall.

"I don't see anything, Belle." Jan was thinking Melinda was seeing things.

"Wait. I see it. Right there. You two are at the wrong angle." Gabrielle pointed in the same direction. Wondering if it was rude to point at a being she was not familiar with, she lowered her hand and nodded in its direction with her head.

Xena moved to stand next to her wife. When she did the relief of a large creature stood out from the cliff wall. It looked to be formed of the same rock material that surrounded it. Its face was literally chiseled from solid stone. It didn't move but it had eyes that saw. It was alive. She moved to face it.

"Excuse me, but we're not from around here. Can you help us?" Xena waited for a reply.

There was no inkling that it heard her.

"Maybe it doesn't speak Greek. Let me try." Melinda gave it her best shot. "Parlevous Francé?"

The creature stared off into the vast distance of Tartarus.

"Since when do you speak French? Let me try." Jan stepped up. "EXCUSE US! WE NEED HELP!" She shouted as loudly as her small lungs would allow. Not surprising that it was louder than several Boeing's taking off at the same time.

No reaction was evident. Obviously shouting was not the answer.

"Geez! You'd have to be deaf not to hear that." Xena uncovered her ears.

Gabrielle frowned in serious thought. She stepped up to the being and made several hand gestures.

The enormous creature bowed its head to the small blonde that stood silently before it. It moved to return her introduction.

<Welcome, Gabrielle. It is my pleasure to meet you.>

The rest of the women stood amazed. They should have known.

<It is a title that suits you well.> Gabrielle smiled sweetly at the solid giant.

<I am honored that you think so.> It inclined its head in gratitude.

The rock being waved its large hand in the air. When it did a large doorway appeared. <Ares took him through here. After that, I don't know.>

<You came to the right place.> They both found great humor in the small joke.

Gabrielle proceeded to relay to the Silent One the story of Hansel and Gretel. She spoke aloud for the benefit of her hearing audience as she signed. They laughed. They cried. A great time was had by all. When she was finished the creature was very pleased.

< I hope not either! You are very welcome! And many thanks to you as well!.> Gabrielle waved to her new friend.

Gabrielle turned back to the rock being. <One other thing... how is it that you know this sign language?>

<Oh I see. Silly me. See you later!> She waved to him again as she followed the rest of the group into the next passage.

They followed the one way passage speaking hushed tones.

"Gabrielle, I didn't know you knew sign." Janice was surprised and slightly confused.

"I didn't know I knew either. Candace gave it to me I suppose. Of course we were together for three years. I had to have picked some up then. But you know, signing is a skill not everyone can master. Candace has that gift. When we all connected I could see the intricate way she sees the entire language. It's not just hand movements. It's expression, emotions, body language. Things hearing people fail to utilize fully. She can do what I couldn't. Until now." She contemplated the intangible skill she had gotten from her friend. "Xe, can you sign?"

"I could a little before, but I understood everything you said to Silent One. I guess I can." Xena smiled at the thought of her other soulmates. She missed them horribly.

"It's mah best guess that ya'll will have many traits in common. It will be an interestin' study to watch it all come about." Mel had already observed many.

"Xena has picked up some interesting traits alright. Whoo hoo!" Gabrielle giggled as girls and Regents have a tendency to do.

"As have you, my love." Xena poked the fun right back.

"I see. Good or bad?" The bard was curious now.

"Do you hear complaints?" Janice knew how to get right to the heart of the subject.

"No."

"Nuff said." The doctor was quite right.

The group tightened up their line as the passage became darker. It got to a point where it was becoming hard to see. Suddenly Xena, being lead, stopped. Like domino's, the women behind ran into each other and then into her one at a time. The Warrior Princess looked back at them and shook her head. She had heard of the Three Stooges. If they were real, they were following her at the moment.

"Do you think you're close enough, guys?" She leaned in for effect.

Gabrielle backed away from her wife then cleared her throat. "Sorry, hon. Why did we stop?"

"Wall." She turned to face the rock.

"Wall as in "dead end"?" Jan didn't like things again.

"Yep. There has to be a way through." Xena contemplated their dilemma.

"Maybe therah is another passageway we've missed." Melinda hadn't been looking around much. It may have passed her observation.

"I didn't see one, sweetheart. I've been keeping an eye out just in case." Jan took another look around to make sure she hadn't missed one.

"OK kids. Thinking caps on. How do we get through solid rock? Suggestions?" Xena polled the audience.

"Let's go back get that big rock thing and have him break through." Jan thought she had the answer.

"To where? For all we know the 'solid' could go on forever." Gabrielle was thinking this out from every angle.

"Very true. Artemis said it would take wisdom. Mel? What kind of wise suggestion would you make?" Xena looked to the timid professor.

"All Ah know of wisdom is that, 'The feah of God is the beginnin' of wisdom.' Ah learned that in Sunday School." She smiled widely at what she thought to be humor until the wall behind Xena melted away.

Three women stared over her shoulder in awe. Xena furrowed her brows and slowly turned.

"Well, that seems to be the wisdom we're looking for." Xena stepped through followed by her companions.

The hall beyond the entrance increased in light ever so slightly. They could see without squinting much. They followed the passage in relative silence. They had gone perhaps two hundred meters when a small chamber with two passages appeared.

"Great. Which way? Right or left?" Xena indicated each with her hands.

"Ah have a thought." Mel walked to stand next to Xena.

"A thought. What is it?" Jan knew the minute the words left her mouth her lover would jump all over it.

"It's that thing that happens when your synapses fiah." She did indeed.

"Thanks, Sherlock. What's your thought?" Janice smiled at Melinda. She loved her bad humor.

"What are synapses?" Xena knew somewhere in her mind Taylor knew, but she didn't want to go find it.

"That's a very long story." Janice put her hands on her hips. "Wanna hear it?"

Xena took in the posture of the doctor and decided she wasn't in the mood for a lecture. "Not right now. Mel, what's your thought." The warrior turned to her tall twin.

"Well, let me just try this. James 1:8. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." As soon as she had finished the two passageways joined to form one. "There we go." Melinda waved her hand

"Interesting. Bible quotes in hell. Go figure." Jan laughed at the irony.

"The Bible. Taylor's favorite book." Xena made the proclamation and smiled.

"And a right Good Book it is, too." The southern woman patted Xena's arm as she walked past her on her way into the next chamber.

"Candace reads that and the Old...Old..Something." Gabrielle tried to recall the word. The longer they were away from them the harder things were to remember.

"Testament, deah. The Old Testament." Melinda helped her with the missing pieces.

"Yeah, but she calls it something else, too." She thought for a minute in the silence of the path. "Torah! That's it."

"You're not serious." Janice stopped dead in her tracks. "She's Jewish? How could we not know that?"

"We nevah really spent that much time togethah." Melinda thought back to many occasions now that indicated faith, but it was not something they judged people by. Religion was a non issue with them.

"Does she practice?" Janice was interested.

"I've seen her practice. She's really good with a sword." Xena wasn't sure what they were all talking about. She understood Candace's heritage from her mother's side. The rest was a blur. She remembered the lighting of the candles each week. Sometimes she prayed in Hebrew, but it never occurred to Xena to ask her about it. She figured it was just another language. When the four had become one she had received more understanding, but faith was abstract at best.

"No Xena. Her religion. Does she practice?" The group continued to walk as Janice spoke.

"Yeah." It was all she could answer.

"I wonder how they keep it together with two different religions in the house?" The doctor was very curious.

"As far as I can gather, Taylor follows a more ancient tradition of Christianity. It was first a Jewish religion. They celebrate all of the holidays from Hanukah to Passover. Then they add Christmas and Resurrection. Candace and I had a long discussion about it one day when we were talking about faith. I don't understand it all, but it was certainly an educational experience." Gabrielle hoped Candace wouldn't mind her freely explaining their practices.

"Does your experience tell you anything about the next puzzle?" Xena who had taken the lead again pointed to the three new openings before them.

"Nope."

"Jan?"

"Don't ask me. I only know one Bible verse. Let there be light!" With a huge smile, she spread her hands out doing her best God impersonation.

Suddenly brightness filled the passage. The shocked look on her face was incredibly priceless.

"Way to go Jan!" Gabrielle was pleased that she could stop groping in the half-light.

"I don't take credit for that." Janice shook her head and looked about her.

"I have a feelin' that we need to be careful with what we quote." Melinda was beginning to grasp certain concepts here.

"It would seem that these words have power here." Xena glanced at the three openings in wonder. What words would show them the way?

"It may be because it is what we know. If things were different we might be quoting the Koran or Confucius, maybe even Buddha. Let's just be careful." Janice nodded at the other three. They returned the nod in agreement.

Mel was so tempted she just couldn't resist. "And the street of the city was pure gold as it were transparent glass."

Xena turned around to figure what the professor had said. By the time she did the ground below their feet had turned to solid gold. It was a stunning sight.

"Wow! This is beautiful! Xe, look at this!" Gabrielle danced around the cave.

"I can see it, babe. Mel, let's not test this too much, OK?"

"Sorry. Isn't it simply lovely!" She grinned so broadly the warrior couldn't stay irritated.

"Can we please quote the right passage please?" Janice was getting antsy.

Melinda shrugged. "One more. 'You shall do what the all that the Lord God commanded. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left'." The three doorways melded in the center to become one.

"Good enough." Xena didn't wait for the rest of the group to go ahead. There was plenty of light and the gold reflected it quite nicely.

"Just so you all know, I think this is all very strange." The tall dark warrior creased her brows.

"Oh yes, Xena. And Mount Olympus makes so much more sense." Jan was being sarcastic on purpose.

"I never said it did, Jaaaan." The former destroyer of nations stuck her tongue out at the wily archeologist.

"Nyaaaah, back at you!" Jan returned the favor.

Gabrielle and Mel shook their feminine heads. Their warriors would never grow up.

"Jan. Xena. That's enough." Mel's serious voice stopped the sounds but the two women got in another quick flick before they stopped.

They walked in silence for what seemed to be hours. The heat was becoming oppressive while the air became thin. They wouldn't be able to continue much longer. They come to the end of the long corridor. The end was as they had begun. It was a dead end.

"Melinda? Any more suggestions?" Gabrielle looked at her friend.

"Not me. If we had an openin' Ah might be able to help you." Mel sat against the wall.

Janice shrugged. "Too bad we don't have another rock creature to ask."

Xena's blue eyes sparked with a thought. *Ask.* "Taylor has a favorite quote. "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God." With a cooling rush of air the passage way opened.

"Better than Open Sesame." Jan wiped the sweat from her brow.

The four women entered the immense cavern with an almost reverent attitude. The size of it was awe inspiring. Solid shining walls, across the distance from where they stood, stretched upward and out of sight. In the very center of the vastness was a small barred cell. A beam of light from an unknown source shone straight down into the very center of the cube. There was a form moving within the confines. It seems that they had found Time.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

To be continued....

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