"Gabrielle, I don't ever remember telling you this, but a while back I had a strange experience. I'm not saying it was a vision or an oracle or anything of that nature; I leave all that to the gods and for all I know, I was hallucinating. But at the time it seemed so very real to me and whenever I think about it, it chills me through. I was in the future, several hundred years from now and you and Joxer were there as well, only it wasn't you, but your descendants. I tend to want to think it was Morpheus having fun with someone while they slept, but it was too real not to be true. And I know it was true because Ares was there and he wanted to rule the world. He said something about a man, a supposedly great leader named Hitler..." Gabrielle interrupted Xena in sheer disbelief, "Xena! Do you know what this means? You have the gift of second sight! You, of all people! I'm sorry to interrupt, but some of the details are a bit sketchy, what else do you remember?" Gabrielle was paying rapt attention to the warrior now. Xena gave Gabrielle the "look" before going on and she said, "I don't have the gift, I know for a fact I am not a seer, but this is what I remember. Your descendant, Janice was her name, was on a quest with another woman named Mel and together they were searching for what they called the Xena Scrolls."
"The what!?" Gabrielle squeaked.
"That's what they called them; the Xena Scrolls and they chronicled all of our
adventures together--all the ones we have had so far and supposedly all of the ones we ever will have as well." Gabrielle was reeling from the shock of it all and she felt like her head would explode from all the information Xena was feeding her.
"Okay, Xena--you had a vision of the future where supposedly our descendants discover all the scrolls I made of our adventures?" Xena noted that while Gabrielle was talking, she had turned a nice white shade of disbelief. In all the time that the bard had known the warrior, she had never known Xena to be given to flights of fancy, but then there was that time when the Furies had driven her insane, but according to Gabrielle's reasoning, it didn't apply here. No matter how outrageous this sounded to her, she figured there had to be something to it, but that, added to everything else that had happened today made her want to shriek.
"Xena, I believe you. It's one of the most outrageous stories I've ever heard and I'm the bard in this group, but I believe you. But as you said earlier and after all that's happened today, I need a rest. I want to go home...to Poteidaia. I've missed my mother and Lila as well." Xena almost opened her mouth to protest and then thought better of it. She hadn't seen her own mother, Cyrene since that business with the Furies and the idea of a visit seemed oddly relaxing to her. However, she, like Gabrielle, did not want to part ways though she did not say so aloud. She stood and resheathed her sword in its scabbard after having used it as an armrest.
"C'mon," Xena said, "I'd like to see your mother and family again too." The
women headed back down the trail and this time looking for the path to Poteidaia.
* * * * *
Joxer had aroused and got going again on his way . He had heard about Xena
imprisoning both Callisto and Velasca in the lava flow and had been meaning for some time to visit the spot just to see if there was any truth to it. He started off on the journey to visit the final resting place of one of the two most dangerous women on Earth, the warrior Callisto. Joxer tried to recall what he had heard of the imprisonment and focused back on what he was told about it. Xena had used Callisto to help lure Velasca into the ancient ruins beyond which lay the lava flow. Velasca, with her god-like powers, had roared into the ruins like a tornado out of control. The enraged Amazon had almost gotten Gabrielle, but thanks to Xena's timely intervention using Gabby's staff, she was spared. From there the battle had gone on to the bridge with Gabrielle running with the ambrosia. Xena had been waiting on the other side of the bridge ready to cut the ropes with her chakram when Gabrielle slipped and almost fell to her death in the lava below. An insane Callisto ran up on the bridge and tried maniacally to snatch the ambrosia
from Gabrielle and at Xena's command, tossed the pouch to her. Callisto had
greedily eaten the coveted food of the gods and then when her transformation into a goddess was complete, she turned to face Velasca who was glaring at her in pure hatred. The two goddesses advanced towards each other and commenced a battle of the wills. They wrestled each other, nearly tearing the bridge apart. Xena had shouted to Gabrielle to hold on and that she was going to dive after her and rescue her. Xena cut the ropes of the bridge and the two goddesses fell headlong into the lava flow. The Warrior Princess dived after her friend and caught her and hauled her to safety. They had then stared back at the mound where the two goddesses were imprisoned before moving on. At least, Joxer thought that was what he had heard. He neared the gorge and noticed that the bridge had been rebuilt. Cautiously Joxer tried his weight on the bridge and he closed his eyes against the
fumes rising up from the gorge and snaked out a hand to grasp the bridge's hand-hold as he tried edge out onto it. True to form, he lost his footing and his body slid out from under him with only his hands keeping him from falling to oblivion in the boiling lava flow below. Through the fumes, he could see the mound formed where the two goddesses were seemingly trapped forever. Joxer managed to haul himself up over from where he was dangling and managed to regain his footing on the bridge. It may have been a trick of the fumes, but Joxer could have sworn the two frozen goddesses had been staring up at him. True to form, he managed to spook himself and ran straight into Ares.
"Air, air, aiiiiirrrrr...." Joxer gasped and Ares hauled him off the ground by his neck, nearly strangling him.
"Find Xena. Tell her I want her complete surrender to me as my chief warlord again in my quest for world dominion or suffer the consequences." Ares dropped Joxer like a stone and vanished, laughing evilly.
The ruins, the gorge, and the appearance of Ares had Joxer visibly shaken and the sun had started setting and he had no desire to stay there any longer. He started stumbling along and tripped over a rock and immediately brained himself on a tree trunk as a result.
The embers of the fire were dying and Gabrielle had done an excellent job on the stew. The rabbit had been small, but Gabrielle had thrown in some spices that had made it especially flavorful. The stars were shining brightly through the trees and the trees around the two women sang as the slightest whisper of a breeze sailed through the night air. The Warrior Princess sat and started sharpening her sword. Gabrielle had already turned in and Xena glanced over at her as she slept. There was a small line of sweat beading up on the bard's brow and Xena noticed her whimper a couple of times softly in her sleep. Gabrielle started to toss and turn some in her sleep and her moans were growing louder. Xena also noticed that Gabby's brow was furroughed as though she was upset and Xena figured it to be a nightmare. She stopped sharpening her blade and went over to the bard. She reached out a hand to Gabrielle's forehead which was very warm to the touch. The warrior grabbed a small cloth and dipped it in some cool water and mopped Gabrielle's brow. She then whispered shushes and the bard's sleep eased. Xena turned to go back to sharpening her sword and stopped. She bent gently back down and gently kissed Gabrielle on the forehead.
* * * * *
The Doctor was in the TARDIS console room when the sensation hit him. It started as a small shiver in the back of his spine and worked its way up through his body. The Time Lord knew something was amiss almost as if he were experiencing a precognitive vision. It was at that moment that the recall signal came blaring out of the console. The Doctor got up and raced over to the console and pulled down the small t.v. like monitor. A haunted look crossed the Doctor's face and he instinctively knew something wasn't right....no, not not right, but more the sense that something dreadful had happened and he glanced up at the monitor again and the message flashed repeatedly across it's screen; AUTOMATIC RECALL SIGNAL DETECTED.....CHANGE COURSE TO EARTH.....AUTOMATIC RECALL SIGNAL DETECTED.....CHANGE COURSE TO EARTH..... the Doctor returned the monitor the its resting position and turned his hands to reset the coordinates for Earth. His movements were almost like that of an automaton as he set the coordinates for Monday, October 6th, 1997. As he finished, he then transmitted a telepathic message to Gallifrey using the telepathic circuits letting them know about his detour and also wishing Romana a happy 185th birthday.
* * * * *
All was peaceful and calm around the village of Amphipolis, Xena's home, as the moon shone down bright and full like a silver coin suspended in the heavens. Cyrene, Xena's mother, noted the lateness of the hour and called for last rounds so she could close the tavern for the evening. Cyrene called over to Calisthene, one of her many barmaids and assistants. She was a beautiful girl and Cyrene had enjoyed watching her grow into the beautiful young woman that she had become and was glad of her help this evening.
"Calisthene, would you please collect all the empty mugs? No-one's come up for a last round and they're starting to leave, so let's go ahead and call it a night."
"Sure. Besides, my feet are killing me." Calisthene turned to collect the few
remaining mugs and stopped and looked back up at Cyrene and brushing a handful of red curls out of her face, said, "By the way, call me Cali, everybody else does."
Cali smiled at Cyrene and turned to lock the door. Cyrene really enjoyed Cali and Cali was like a second daughter to her and it was nice having her around since she seldom had the chance to see her own daughter, the Warrior Princess, that often.
* * * * *
Just Outside Amphipolis-
There was a small valley to the north of the village just on the outskirts of
Amphipolis. Various caverns dotted the valley amongst scattered boulders. The night wind was still and heavy and it seemed that nothing would break the stillness of the night. The heaviness of the air was suddenly disturbed by a wailing cry from one of the caverns that sounded like a wheezing, groaning, death rattle. Lightning flashes emanated forth from the cave with the odd cry and it seemed as if time and space themselves were in torment. Miraculously, storm clouds formed in the sky over the cavern and a ring of lightning bolts struck the earth around the cavern and a hellacious wind blew. Suddenly, without reason or explanation, the storm ended.
* * * * *
Cyrene hazarded a glance out the door during the odd storm that had mysteriously arrived out of nowhere. She turned to Cali with a worried look on her face and said, "Maybe it's best for you to wait out the storm here tonight and head home in the morning. I'm sure your parents wouldn't mind and I wouldn't forgive myself if you left for home and something happened to you. It is a short distance from here to your house on the other side of the valley."
"I'll be okay and besides, Euristo will be walking me home again tonight." Cali smiled as she said this last bit and Cyrene just knew that the two would end up together as they had been spending a lot of time together and Euristo often walked Cali home. Their reverie was broken by a knock on the door that almost went unheard as the thunder crashed loudly outside. Cali opened the door to find Euristo staring at her.
"Euristo! What are you doing here?"
"I came to walk you home, but in this storm, I'm not sure we should risk it."
"Well, as far as I'm concerned," Cyrene broke in, "You can both stay here tonight. I have extra rooms available, so let me go and get two of them ready." She turned to go prepare the rooms, leaving Calisthene and Euristo alone together. Cali turned on Euristo, saying, "I can't believe you ventured out in this storm! What were you thinking?"
"I had to see you. Not even a storm like this could keep me away." Cali was
genuinely touched and said so. She also decided to show Euristo her gratitude and before he knew what had happened, she grabbed him and pulled him close and kissed him square on the lips. He recovered from the shock quickly enough and went with the flow of things. A cough broke the stillness of the moment and the two looked up in embarrassed amusement to see Cyrene smiling at them. Cali tried to come up with an excuse and floundered.
"Cyrene! I, uh, I mean, that is we..." Cyrene held up a hand to quiet her.
"It's perfectly alright, Calisthene, I was your age once and..." Cyrene broke off abruptly as something seemed to occur to her. Calisthene looked at her, worried.
"Cyrene?" No answer.
"Cyrene?" Again, no answer. Cali walked over to the older woman and laid a hand on her arm and again she asked, " Cyrene, what is it? You're beginning to scare us." This seemed to bring Cyrene around and she turned to face Cali and Euristo.
"Listen," she whispered, "Can you hear it?" Cali was completely caught unawares by the statement and took a second to regain her train of thought and she stopped to listen.
"Hear it? Hear what? I can't hear anything!" Euristo broke in as realization dawned on him.
"Exactly," he whispered, "The storm has stopped."
* * * * *
The three stood at the door of the tavern looking out at the miraculously calm
evening. The moon was once again shining full and bright over Amphipolis and from the tavern, you could see down into the valley and beyond as it was well-lit.
"Are you sure you won't stay?" Asked Cyrene.
"No," Cali stated, "I really need to get home because it's late and besides, I have Euristo to look out for me."
"Well, if that's how you feel."
"It's okay, really. We'll be alright. The moon's bright and full and the path is well lit."
"Very well, then. Just be careful and I'll see you tomorrow morning or, if you
want, I can have Gloxene come in for you. You haven't had a day off in a while and I think you're due one."
"Could you, please? Besides, after that freak storm we had this evening, maybe I should wait and see if there are any more similar occurrences."
"Ok, then, I'll have Gloxene come in tomorrow. Take care and goodnight."
"Goodnight Cyrene, and thank you." Calisthene placed her arm in Euristo's and the two walked through the small village and soon arrived at the small rise that looked down into the small open valley with the caverns off to the left hand side and just beyond that, Calisthene could make out the lights shining in the windows of her family's home. As the couple walked, Cali suddenly stopped and turned to face Euristo and gazed longingly into his eyes. He placed his index finger under her chin and lifted her chin up and he bent down and kissed her soft full lips. The two of them then headed down into the valley under the moon. They then noticed the strange humming noise that seemed to be coming from one of the caverns. It was a low steady drone that filled the air and both Cali and Euristo were naturally curious to see what was going on. They noticed flashes of blue light emanating from one of the caverns and it seemed this was the cavern that the humming sound seemed to come from. As the two neared it, they noticed the humming and the light flashes were both intermittent. Calisthene braced herself with one hand and leaned forward to peer into the cavern when she felt Euristo pulling her back.
"Cali, I've got a bad feeling about this. Please don't go into that cavern.
Whatever's in there can wait till later."
"Oh, Euristo, let's have just a small peek, ok? Besides, it's probably just someone worshiping one of the gods."
"Alright, I'll go with you. You know I can't tell you no. But promise me this; At the first sign of trouble, we'll leave."
"Sure." she quipped. Cautiously the lovers stepped into the cave and were awed by its spacious interior and how high the ceiling was. The humming they noticed had stopped as well as the light flashes, so Cali and Euristo didn't realize anything was there until they ran smack into it. Cali backed away from the object and cautiously reached out a trembling hand and touched the surface of the object. It felt cold to the touch and glassy like smooth obsidian. At her touch, a pale bluish glow seemed to emanate from the center of the object. She could make out just enough to see a pedestal with an outline of a hand imprinted in its surface. Cali placed her hand in the imprint and the lighting came up to full and the whole structure seemed back-lit by white light. The couple could see that the object was hexagonal in shape and noticed blue lightning streaks creep along its outer surface and then start spiraling towards the empty inner space at its heart. The raw energies spiraled together faster and time seemed to slow as a vortex formed within the hexagon itself churning and spinning away. Scenes from other times, places and worlds shown at random in the vortex, and then they heard a voice inside their heads speaking to them. It said, I am one of the Gates Of Rassilon. It is my duty to provide instantaneous travel to any point in the universe of time and space. All unauthorized persons will be destroyed. As this last statement went through their heads, the Gate went dark again. Cali and Euristo turned to leave; both excited and terrified at the same and anxious to tell someone of their discovery. They hadn't gone three steps when the Gate reactivated to their sheer surprise and horror. The vortex at the heart of the Gate churned as before but gradually began to increase and a harsh wind started blowing them towards the Gate. Images of other worlds and times flashed by in a maddening fury and Cali and Euristo were mercilessly pushed towards the Gate by gale like winds. Cali was lighter and was being pulled in faster and she started screaming in panic. Euristo grabbed hold of her arm and used his other to anchor himself against the pedestal of the Gate. The wind was so strong it picked Cali up and her body was beginning to vanish into the vortex. Euristo's hand was resting in the imprint on the pedestal. Suddenly, temporal energy surged up the pedestal and engulfed his body. He started to age very rapidly and screamed for Cali's help. His beautiful bronzed and muscled flesh withered and aged like old papyrus and he lost hold of Cali's hand. The last thing Calisthene of Amphipolis ever saw was her lover collapse in a heap of dead bones due to instantaneous rapid aging and death as she spun pell-mell through the vortex to an unknown time and place, screaming like one of the eternally damned.
