Fan Fiction
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Deja vu and the Clones
Chapter Fourteen
One Last Time
After a quick and light lunch, since everyone was anxious to continue, they resumed their places in the four chairs, knees touching and hands held.
"Okay," Mattie said to Annie, "just where do you want to visit?"
"Well, I'm sure you all remember when Salmoneus was pretending to be Lord Seltzer."
"Not really," Xena answered.
"Don't worry about it, it'll come back to you," Annie reassured her. "Anyway, he sold a warlord named Talmadeus some bogus armor and Talmadeus was going to attack the village where Salmoneus was running his scam. And during all of this, I was shot in the neck with a poisoned dart."
"Wasn't it Callisto who shot you?" Gabrielle asked.
"She did. But that's not why I want us to go back. The particular point I want to visit is in the barn where I was hiding from Talmadeus' men. The talmic poison had paralyzed my legs and was working its way up my body and there was a good chance that I was going to die."
Mattie smiled. "I think I know why you chose that exact point in time. And if I'm right, it was an excellent choice."
"Tell us," Xena demanded.
"I think it would be better for you, and for all of us to experience it. All right then. Let's get started. Slow your breathing — in … and … out… in … and … out. Think back — the old barn, Xena is lying on the straw, waiting for Gabrielle to return. Counting to ten. One … two … three … four … five … six…."
Xena heard the barn door open and saw Gabrielle come inside.
"I made sure the guards were posted."
"Good — now let's get everybody out of the factory. Tell them to go home, board up their houses, and stay inside. Talmadeus' focus right now is here."
"Xena, can you just stop thinking of everybody else for a moment? There's got to be something I can do for you."
"Don't worry about me. What did I tell you? Focus. We've got Talmadeus on his heels. You need to hit him at his camp. A direct attack will really make him cautious."
Gabrielle was having a hard time holding back the tears. "Xena, are you going to die?"
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