<>Armageddon II

Hello gang!

Since this episode has a good deal of Xena in it,and because
old "Zwolf" was having a bit of trouble, I thought I'd take up the slack and
post the spoiler for you guys! (Aren't I such a sweetheart)? *Grin*

WE begin the tale with Iolus who has been sent into the past by Ares
to stop Callisto from murdering Herc's mom. (I havne;t figured out
how Hercules is the key to this whole Dayhok thing, but we know that
Hope and Dayhok want him out of the way. She isn't worried too much
about the other gods). So Callisto has stolen the amulet with the
Hind's blood (poison to a god) and has traveled into the past to kill
Herc's mom. Iolus follows, and manages to trick Callisto into
torching a water tower which he is standing under. this brings the
whole thing crashing down, drenching Callisto andmaking her look like
a girl in a wet T-shirt contest. She dries off by using her fire,
but this gives Iolus time to explain to Herc's mom who he is and who
her son will be.

Iolus confronts Callisto and his quick reflexes allow him to snatch
the amulet with the Hind's blood from her neck. He caots a dagger
with some of the blood, intent on using it against Callisto and
killing her off for good! but he doesn't get a chance to use it.
Callisto knocks the blade from his hand and he dives for it. She
catches him before he can reach the dagger, but for some starange
reason she lets him go. she takes the amulet, then torches Herc's
mom's home (with her inside it...killing her).

Herc is still in Limbo at this point and can see all that is taking
place. He fights a lot with "Evil Herc" but eventually they simmer
down to just bickering amongst themselves. But...now that Herc's
mom is dead, he cannot leave Limbo or he'll cease to exist.
(It would be as if he never existed).

something happens and Iolus travels in time again. (This happens a
lot throughout the whole episode). He winds up in "Sira" (sp?)
Callisto's home town. Xena has arrived and is about to destroy it.
(Remember, we are in the past here). A king arrives to offer
tribute in the hopes that Xena will spare his lands. He gives Xena a
magical stone (The Kronus Stone) which she takes and promptly has him
executed. She thinks little more about the stone and tosses onto a
pile of other riches she has stolen. (Good old Xena! The girl had
so much potential) LOL!!!!

So...Callisto shows up in Sira, determined to save her family.
Iolus follows her with that dagger coated with the Hind's blood.
However, he is captured by some of Xena's men.

Callisto finds her family (mom, dad and a teen age Callisto) and
tries to help them, but they haven't a clue as to who she is and run
from her.

Xena now orders the attack on the village! Iolus is brought before
her and a fight ensues. He holds his own pretty well, having learned
several tricks that she taught him herself (in another time). He
tries hard to convince him of who he is and who she will come to be,
but she doesn't recognize any of this and tries to kill him anyway.
Then, he mentions her son Solon (whom at the time, no one knew about)
and it causes her to pause. A messenger comes to the door,
distracting Xena and Iolus manages to escape.

The attack has now begun! Iolus finds Callisto and follows her.
Callisto locates her family in a barn and again tries to explain that
she wants to help them. The mom is afraid and doesn't believe her.
One of Xena's soldiers runs in and Callisto cuts the guy's throat
right in front of the mom! Now she REALLY doesn't want to go with
this warrioress! The dad rushes into the door right after the
soldier was killed, Callsito hears him, turns and throws a dagger
before realizing who he is. the dagger impales him and now she has
killed her own father! Mom runs over and pulls the dagger free, turns
on Callisto and attacks. Callisto, with this look of sad resignation
on her face, torches her own mother! now it's just callisto and the
teen Callisto, who is in shock and numb at this point. She passes
out. Callisto rocks the teen in her arms and tells her that she must
kill her for both of their sake. She keeps saying she's sorry, over
and over. She walks out of the barn (leaving the teen there to die
cuz it's on fire) and Iolus hears the teen scream. He has to leave
Callisto to save the teen. He rushes into the barn, rescues the
little Callisto and an uncle of hers shows up. Little Callisto is at
the point that she cannot cry and we learn she is already turning bad.
Iolus gives her to the uncle and then heads off after Callisto.
Iolus is zapped through time again and this time ends up in corinth
where Xena has conquered the whole world! She has begun to crucify
all her enemies. WE see Xena now dressed in some sort of Chinese or
Mongolian regalia and on the throne in Corinth. A girl is brought
out to appear before her and the girl turns out to be Gabrielle!
This girl is charged with inciting the people to revolt. She gives a
speech to the people and Xena has her crucified. Iolus (at this
point) can only stand by and watch helplessly.

He returns to Ares' temple, bursts into the room to find Ares on his
throne. He tries to explain to Ares that everything has changed, but
Ares has changed in the timeline himself! He has no idea who
Hercules is, who Iolus is and loves what Xena has done for him! He
has no knowledge of Dayhok or Hope. After saying all this, he
disappears! (Which sort of surprised me since Iolus burst into his
temple and talked to him like they were friends rather than showing
proper respect to a god). But... I digress.

It is at this point that Herc begins to figure this whole thing out!
He knows that the Stone hcan help and he begins to construct a series
of lightning rods to attract all the lightning flashing around in
Limbo. He also learns he can now communicate with Iolus from Limbo
and helps him with advise. Iolus sets out to steal the Kronus Stone
(which has by now been paced upon a staff or scepter that Xena holds).

The scene shifts to Xena watching some gladiators fighting. Iolus
sneaks in through the back and manages to steal the stone in broad
daylight! A chase ensues, but the stone transpots him back in time
again to the house where Herc's mom lives. He is inside with Herc's
mom and peeks out the door. He sees Callisto fighting himself
outside and knows she is about to torch the house. So he sneaks the
mom out the back of the house and saves her.

Now we shift back to Limbo, where lighting has struck the rods and a
vortex (or gateway) opens between the two diminsions. Herc dives
through (leaving a stunned evil Herc in Limbo).

Callisto finds Iolus and begins to fight with him. She knocks the
stone from his hands and melts it in a blaze of fire. Iolus pulls
the dagger with the Hind's blood coating it and again tries to kill
her, but she again disarms him. just as she is about to fr Iolus,
Herc shows up and kicks her tale roaylly! Woo Hoo!!! She tries a
pathetic attempt to defeat Herc, but no dice! Herc unloads on her!
After beating the girl senseless, he grabs her by the seat of her hot
pants and hurls her through the vortex! (Note! she was still
wearing the amulet at the time and also, we do not learn where she
ends up. She doens't end up where Evil Herc is as far as I can tell.
She just disappears). This leaves open the question of whether or
not Callisto has been killed or not. I say not yet.

The scene ends with Iolus happy to see Herc aain, and as they walk
off we see Hope watching them leave.

Well, that's how it ends so far folks! I left out lots of stuff, so
make sure ya watch to get the whole effect!

Interestingly enough, I have been a very harsh critic in the past
regarding last season's Herc episodes. but this season has been
incredible! I love the Dayhok storyline and the Crossover between
Xena and Herc!

Hope you guys enjoy the spoiler as much as I did writing it.

= )

Hawk †