This story takes place after the end of
season 3, although the first three chapters were written before
"Sacrifice". Chapters 1-6, 8, and 13 were written from April 1998 to
March 1999.
Chapter 1 - Joxer
A lone figure walked along a forest path on his way to the next
village. His patchwork armor clanked noisily as he sang a merry tune to
the surrounding animals, most of whom had already vacated his immediate
vicinity:
"Joxer the Mighty!
He's not so flighty!
He can lift things highly..."
"No, that's not quite right," said Joxer to no one in particular.
"This was so easy the first time. But if I don't build on my song
people will stop listening and then where would I be?"
A slim figure dropped from the trees behind Joxer. The blonde followed
him for a few minutes, smirking at Joxer's obliviousness to his
surroundings. She started to pantomime his motions and was getting
pretty close to Joxer's walk and arm-flinging when she got bored and
decided to interrupt his soliloquy.
"Joxer, don't you ever get tired of listening to yourself? Or are
you the only person who can stand the incessant prattling coming out of
that thing you call a mouth?"
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Joxer spun
around at the sound of the familiar feminine voice, his arm
going to his sword at his side, which he managed to pull out without
dropping. Unfortunately for him, she had stuck her leg out and he
tripped over it, falling in a jumble at her feet. Miraculously, he hung
on to his sword and was able to point it up at the leather-clad woman
practically standing above him.
"Ca- Ca-
Callisto!" he stuttered, suddenly feeling very afraid. "Wh- What are
you doing here? Whatever you want I won't let you get away with it. Xe-
Xena's going to meet me in Patras and she'll come looking for me when I
don't show up." 'Oh no, I told her we're Xena is! Better stop talking,'
he thought.
Callisto smiled at Joxer. She liked the way people reacted to her
presence. The sense of power was thrilling and she never tired of the
attention she received when she showed up, expectedly or, as in this
case, unexpectedly.
"Relax Joxer, before you do something that you'll regret," said
the imposing Warrior Queen. "I'm not here to kill you, at least not
yet." Her smile got wider and she showed her teeth, which only worried
Joxer more. Callisto turned around and walked over to a large rock,
whereupon she sat down and stared at Joxer on the ground, her smile
never leaving her face.
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