Callisto
continued with her speech, all the while gazing at him fervently with
her brown eyes. "I realize now that I've become obsessed with her. My
decisions invariably are wrong because I can't see the larger picture.
When I face her my mind blanks and this other personality takes over.
I've noticed that Gabrielle, irritating though she may be, keeps
Xee-nah's wild side in check. And I'm sure that's what I need: someone
who's level-headed and can keep me from making mistakes when I face
Xee-nah."
"Wait a second," interrupted Joxer, which got him a brief, angry look
from the warrior in front of him. "I'm not going to help you kill Xena
or Gabby or any innocent villages. So although I do appreciate the
offer, I'll be going now. Good day Callisto."
With that, Joxer started to get up but stopped when the tip of
Callisto's dagger touched his throat. "I'm not done yet," she hissed to
the wide-eyed do-gooder. "Now sit back down before I do something that
only you will regret."
The apprehensive warrior sat back down on his rock. "That's much
better," she purred to him. "As I was saying, I need someone to be my
conscience when I go mad. I don't want to burn any villages or hurt
Gabrielle or anyone else but Xee-nah. But when my madness takes over,
I'll do anything to satisfy my need for vengeance."
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Callisto
looked down at the ground between them. What she said next came out in
a low voice that Joxer could just make out. She played with her dagger
as she continued her confession. "I truly regret what I did when I was
a warlord. My army razed several villages and murdered dozens of
people. It just got worse when I ate the ambrosia since I then had the
power of an army with none of the inefficiencies of having other people
do my bidding. I'm glad I'm not a Goddess anymore."
The girl who had grown up so fast in a harsh world looked up at Joxer.
Her eyes didn't focus on him as she reminisced. "There were times when
I was aware enough to realize the horrible things I had committed. But
then I would hear about the Warrior Princess and all other concerns
would fade away."
She focused once again on the person many thought a fool. Joxer looked
deep into Callisto's eyes and thought he saw the remorse and anguish
lying in her soul. "I still want, need, to get her. But I don't want my
insanity to hurt other people in the process. That's why I need you.
That's why you need to accompany me. Neither of us wants the monster
that I can be to come out."
Xena's mortal enemy finished talking and let Joxer think. Joxer saw
that what she had said made some sense. She was sincerely reaching out
for help and it was his duty to give all the help he could. He still
had some doubts which he expressed: "What makes you think I can
convince you when you're not sane? I admit that I have a charming
personality and I'm irresistible to women but that hasn't worked before
with you. And I don't think I could subdue you since I'm loathe to hit
women..."
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