The following episode written for The Xena Warrior Princess Virtual Season is a work of fiction based upon the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. The original characters are used strictly for fan purposes and not for profit. There is no intent to infringe upon or violate any copyrights held by Studio USA, Renaissance Pictures, Universal Television or any other organization that owns the rights to this series. 

The script, story ideas, and any characters created by the authors that are not part of the original series are copyrighted and remain the sole property of those authors. Also, any original artworks are copyrighted and remain the sole property of those artists. Permission to use any of the written or drawn works herein must be submitted to the original author(s) and artist(s).

1. COURTYARD: FORTRESS OF ANTONIA - FLASHBACK

LAST WEEK ON XENA...
The followers of the rebel Barabbas entered Jerusalem. Their plan to create a disturbance in the courtyard to distract the Roman soldiers from noticing Barabbas' advance on Pontius Pilate went awry when a Roman soldier shoves a young boy to the ground. Witnesses seeing this, went wild...

Barabbas, is injured by an arrow through his leg.

Xena rushes toward him.

She reaches him and extends a hand to help him up.

He pushes her hand away.

NO! You and Eve have to get out of here!

Don't be a fool!

I said get out of here! If I'm captured, I need someone to take over for me!

Get my people to safety!

Xena looks up and sees several Romans rushing toward them.

GO! NOW!!!

Xena quickly gets to her feet, her eyes rapidly scanning the area for Eve. She spots her in the throng of panicked people.

Xena glances down at Barabbas who's inched his way to his feet, his back against the wall.

Go! Don't worry about me!

Get the women and children to safety! NOW!

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2. EVE

Eve, in mid block of a sword stroke, hears Xena's order and nods her understanding. In a round-house spin, she kicks the Roman back. He slams into a pillar and slides down, unconscious. Quickly she begins to herd the women and children toward Xena who ushers them toward the gate.

Move it! Get to the gate! NOW! We'll cover you!

The women push their way past the men, who've gathered in clusters. They form a barricade between their loved ones and the Romans. They rush the foot soldiers of Pilate.

The ringing of swords clanging against one another is heard over the alarmed screams of the women and the fearful cries of the children.

Xena and Eve stand shoulder to shoulder forming a protective barrier between the women and children and the Roman soldiers. Their swords flash in the sunlight as they parry the enemy blades protecting the backs of the fleeing innocents who are running toward the gate.

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3. PONTIUS PILATE ON PODIUM

Pilate raises his arm and looks upon the spear throwers. They await his signal.

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4. GATE ENTRANCE

At the gate, Joshua and Jacob battle the Roman guards.

Gabrielle, seeing the women and children running in her direction, urge them through the opening.

A Roman soldier runs toward the escaping fugitives, spear tightly grasped, ready to run through the first body he encounters.

Seeing the danger, Gabrielle removes her chobos from their sheaths. Ducking under his guard, she lunges forward. With a sweep of her left arm, she hits the Roman in mid-thigh, bringing him to his knees. With a powerful punch of her chobo, she knocks him into the wall.

Panting, Xena and Eve arrive at the gate, urging the people to safety.

Battering away the guards, Jacob and Joshua manage to gain control of the pulley system.

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PONTIUS PILATE

Pilate nods and lowers his arm, giving the signal to the spear throwers.

A hailstorm of spears and javelins fills the sky as they sail through the air. Men scream as the points pierce their bodies. The onrushing Jews halt, as the dead and dying in the first rows collapse.

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GATE ENTRANCE

Gabrielle continues to usher the women and children through the gate.

Xena! Eve! Come on!

Gabrielle! Go!

Not without you!

Mother! Come on!

I'll catch up! You and Gabrielle go!

Xena removes her chakram and looks up on the wall. Archers are taking aim at those escaping through the gate.

Roman soldiers continue to make their way toward the gate through what remains of the rioting crowd.

Xena takes aim and hurls the chakram.

It splits in two, each one ricochets off walls and sails fiercely towards the archers, cutting their bowstrings in half. Rebounding off ledges, the spinning blades sail down toward the advancing Romans. It shears off the blades of their raised swords mid-way, and continues onward. Bouncing off yet another wall, the blades of the chakram merge as it zooms toward the pulley system ropes.

It slices neatly through the ropes and returns to Xena's waiting hand.

The gate is rapidly descending. Diving to the ground, she rolls sideways, skimming under the barrier. It crashes closed behind her.

Xena, are you all right?

Yes!

Run! Now! Go! Get to safety!

A dozen Roman soldiers are bunched by the gate, straining to lift the massive barricade.

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