Another concern was going to be the marksmen with the tranquillizer darts. With luck things would happen too quickly for them to be able to act before the Amazons took them out, and the same thing pretty much applied to any of the other guards that were up with the spectators. Then there were going to be milling, panicked civilians getting in the way of everyone. If things went as planned then a section of the Amazons would be free to coral them and keep them out of harms way.

That left Caesar's personal guards, who should be taken care of by Ephiny's (especially as they had the element of surprise) and, of course, their own unpredictable individuals. He knew he could trust Iolaus to keep out of too much trouble. They'd had a long serious discussion about likely outcomes and his blonde friend had promised to try and restrain Toris and Gabrielle from doing anything that could cause problems for the overall plan .. like getting too close to Caesar. Joxer he wasn't so worried about. The man had a happy knack of surviving and he sincerely doubted that the wannabe warrior would attempt to seek out the Roman ruler for a one on one confrontation.

Of course, the real question was, "What will Xena do?" Hercules knew in his heart that she was going to go after the man who had made it his business to torment her for so many years. In a way he couldn't blame her, but killing him would probably make an escape almost impossible, they were going to need him as their passport out of Rome.

With a start, he was jerked back from his reverie as Eponin touched him lightly on the arm. He looked down into her caramel eyes and she said softly, "It's time." He answered with an almost imperceptible nod, and followed after her as she collected the women chosen to accompany them on this difficult section of their mission.

Artemis and Aphrodite cruised the gathering invisibly, making sure to keep well clear of Hercules. They had dressed to blend in with the guests, should they need to put in a more solid appearance, but for the time being they could see that their brother and his mortal friends had things well in hand, and they would only act if an emergency erupted. Although they did have plans to initiate once the fighting stopped.

"What are you up to 'Dite?" questioned her sister as she watched the Goddess of Love sprinkle some sparkling substance over a young couple.

"Just catching up with some work," she grinned, "You know how it is, you get involved with some, like, real heavy gig, and before ya know it your in tray's backed up with petitions." Her sister frowned at her, "Hey chill, Arte!" she suggested, "It's not like we have a lot to do for the moment."

The Goddess of the Hunt gave an exaggerated sigh and moved towards the balcony where she had just seen Caesar and Ephiny disappear, "C'mon, I want to see what happens out there," she told her sister, grabbing her arm.

"You got it sweet cheeks!" answered Aphrodite, just as eager as her sister to see how the Regent intended handling the Roman, they vanished heading for the balcony.

They had avidly watched the scene between Caesar and Ephiny as it played out under the canopy of the stars and moon. "That went well," noted Artemis as the pair of pseudo lovers left their secluded rendezvous and headed for what they hoped was going to be the climax of the evening's entertainment.

"You know, that guy's technique is really slick .. pity he's wasting it following Ares. Wonder if I could interest him in a change of career direction? I mean, with a little personal tuition he could rock the world big time .. and have a lot of fun doing it," she gave a shiver of delight at the thought.

"Forget it, 'Dite, we have other more important work to do," reminded Artemis.

"As I said, Chill babe. It never hurts to mix pleasure with a little business," she giggled.

"Oh get real, Aphrodite," snorted the huntress, "The only thing Caesar cares about is war and conquest!" A sly look stole over her features unnoticed by her sister, "Besides, I've heard him say that love is only any good as a tool to use to divide a target's emotions from their sensibilities, and that anyone who wasted their time serving love deities was just asking to be "screwed over" ... his words, not mine," she assured her sister.

"Oooooooo!!!!" screeched the Goddess on Love in angry frustration, "He said that, did he?" She turned her glare towards the door where he'd just re-entered the chamber, "Delinquent loser!" she yelled, "That does it, I'm talking big time retribution here. I've a good mind to hit him with ..."

"Hold it 'Dite," yelped Artemis, grabbing her sister's arm, "Don't do anything that's gonna foul this up ... you can play with Caesar anytime. Let's get Xena, the boys and my Amazons out of here before you start another game."

At Aphrodite's nod, they moved back into the room and glanced around to locate their quarry. As they did so, the blonde goddess' eyes fell upon Brutus, who had arrived as part of Caesar's retinue, "Well, well, well," she purred kittenishly, "Big bad Caesar's bestest buddy is about to come down with a severe case of jealousy," she wiggled her fingers and giggled.

"What did you do, 'Dite?" demanded Artemis, her green eyes flashing in annoyance.

"Oh just catching up on a little work, you know .. a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do," she grinned.

The huntress gave her a suspicious look but refrained from pressing the matter. Movement caught her eye and she could see Caesar and a crowd of spectators, along with practically all of the Amazon contingent heading towards the fight pit and the main event of the evening, and leaving just eight warriors to safeguard their line of retreat. "C'mon," she said winking out in a shower of silvery green sparks closely followed by Aphrodite's pink and gold.

The pit fighting entertainment had been ... different. Ephiny smiled as she watched half a dozen dwarfs attempting to beat each other into submission with a variety of instruments that included an inflated pigs bladder, a long black feather, wet sponges, pillows and wet rags. The result was chaotically farcical and extremely funny. She'd laughed so much she'd had to brush the tears off her cheeks.

She had guessed that they were in for more than just mild amusement when the first pairing brought together two women who were balancing feathers on their noses and had their hands tied behind their backs. The object of the contest was to remove their opponents feather by blowing at it, while trying to keep your own balanced. It was a close fought contest that had lasted much longer than she had thought would be possible, a testimony to the combatants skills.

The next entertainment had involved five youths and a greased pig. The efforts of the competitors to catch the pig, soon had the Roman nobles shouting and hollering encouragement, in between making heavy wagers with each other about just who was going to be victorious. She grinned as she remembered the end of the match .. it was, in fact, the pig who won, leaving five exhausted boys in its wake.

She threw a glance at Caesar. Of all the people here, he was the only one not enjoying the spectacle, even the soldiers had grins plastered over their faces! But as the laughter grew louder, the Emperor's face grew commensurately darker, adding immeasurably to Ephiny's enjoyment of the whole programme.

Turning slightly to get a look at Graccus, the Regent could tell he was getting as much pleasure from the increasing grimness of Caesar's visage as she was, and took that to mean that the whole show was arranged for just that purpose. The senator had 'obviously' not appreciated being coerced into staging the re-match of Xena and Hercules at his party.

Ephiny swung a careful eye around the gallery of the pit. Unlike Caesar's and many of the newer examples, this pit was just basically a hole, bordered by a railing. It had no fancy safety precautions for guards, making it very easy for her Amazons to get close to the soldiers on security duty, and there was no elaborate box for favoured spectators to take their ease in .. everyone just found a place to watch that suited them. All in all it couldn't be more perfect.

Her attention was drawn back to Caesar as he growled over his shoulder to Graccus, "When are these children's games going to be over .. I have a wish to see a real fight." He was certain that the old senator had arranged these fooleries to deliberately anger and humiliate him. He scowled at the thought.

Graccus smiled placatingly, "As soon as these 'fighters' are finished, my lord."

Scowling again, Caesar turned back to the spectacle with ill humour. He wanted this over so he could pursue a far more entertaining evening, with the Amazon Queen eager to service his every whim. He'd waited far longer, for the chance to properly bed her, than he had for any other woman. And now that the time was drawing close, he could almost taste her on his lips once again, and his blood sang in expectation.

Looking at Ephiny, who was glowing with mirth, he found himself stirring to an uncomfortable degree. She turned and looked at him with a raised eyebrow disturbingly reminiscent of his dark, dangerous, slave, "Soon my sweet," he promised, but whether it was an oath to the Amazon or to Xena, he would have been hard pressed to say.

"Oh yeah," responded the Regent with enthusiasm, but she had her mind on an entirely different scenario to his.

The dwarves finished their show and trooped out of the pit. Within short moments, Hercules entered the arena to be followed, shortly after, by the familiar, chained, figure of Xena and her guards. Ephiny's eyes swung towards where she knew Gabrielle and Toris were standing just behind her to her right, and she saw them eagerly crane forward to gain their first look at the woman in moons. She offered a silent prayer to Artemis that neither would do something rash, before returning her focus of attention back to the dark haired warrior, who stood quietly rubbing her wrists and stretching away the effects of the shackles.

When Xena looked up, she knew that there was going to be trouble. Her blue eyes blazed with icy hatred and determination. She shivered at the spectre of death that she saw there and felt, rather than heard, Caesar's sharp intake of breath. Then the woman's eyes had turned away, allowing her to breathe again. Worriedly, she checked on her Roman escort, - Does he suspect something? -

Thinking quickly, the Regent said softly, "That woman truly hates me."

Caesar turned to look at her, then cast a look down to where his slave limbered up, "Don't worry, my love. "She's not going to ever get anywhere near you. She might hate you, but she's in no position to do anything about it."

Drawing a mental sigh of relief, Ephiny hoped she had done enough to distract Caesar's thoughts from the warrior's unguarded look, - God's Xena, do you ever owe me for all of this. - she thought for at least the hundredth time.

Even locked away in the large old storeroom, Xena could hear the wild laughter and yelling going on, - Sounds like some kind of party, - she mused. - I hope that Eph had the sense to keep Gabrielle and the others well away from here. - She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, - Though I bet that bard of mine had other ideas, and my brother's got a stubborn streak as wide as ... well, as wide as mine! Gods, nothing is ever easy, is it? -

Her patience was beginning to wear a little thin as she sat there waiting. She wanted this over with. She wanted her friends and family safely out of Rome, and she wanted Caesar dead. She shifted restlessly rattling her chains and drawing instant tension from her guards, "Relax boys," she smiled mirthlessly, "just easing my muscles a bit. I got a big fight to win for your boss," she smirked. Hands remained tightly gripping their batons until she settled in place again.

Once more she drifted off in her thoughts getting lost in good memories, although she was instantly aware of the bar being removed from the heavy door, and looked up expectantly as Flaccus entered, "Get her up," he growled. "It's time."

Before they could move to pull her upright, she had stood in a smooth, graceful flow and was ready to follow the centurion out of the room as soon as he motioned her forward. On their way to the pit door, they passed a group of laughing and clowning dwarves who were making something of a commotion as they were herded off towards the holding cell.

"I've got some tough act to follow," she called to the small men.

"We've warmed them up for you, Lady!" shouted one.

"What you do with them now is up to you," laughed another.

"Thanks fellas," she grinned.

Flaccus scowled at her, "Keep you mouth shut, slave," he snarled. "After tonight you are going to learn some proper behaviour ... one way or another," he promised.

Upon entering the pit, Xena found, as before, Hercules already there and waiting for her. She glanced at him and locked eyes for a moment acknowledging the silent question of 'was she ready' with a slight inclination of her head. Ignoring Flaccus as he removed her restraints, the warrior tried to block out the excited, good humoured, buzz of the crowd, to locate the presence she could feel staring at her. Her eyes intense, she homed in on the masked gaze of a figure she knew to be Gabrielle, and beside her was, to her eyes, the unmistakable form of her brother.

With a slight quirk of her lips, she acknowledged that she'd seen them, before turning her attention to where Caesar and Ephiny stood close by. Her eyes burned with the cold fire that she had kept hidden and banked whilst unable to find an outlet for it, but now they blazed with an intensity that the Regent had seen only once before and Caesar had learned to fear.

Cursing herself silently for giving him cause for concern, she returned her attention to stretching and limbering up her stiff muscles, wanting to be as ready as possible for the fighting to come. She was aware of Flaccus and his goons gathering up her shackles and leaving the pit, and she used those few moment to check on the positions of the sentries in the gallery and almost smiled to see the proliferation of Amazons gathered in strategic spots ready to take them out. Finally the noise within the small arena quietened down and Xena straightened up looking back towards Caesar.

The dictator addressed his fellow guests, "This evening you are privileged to see two of the world's greatest gladiators. Heston, Queen Ephiny's champion from Themiscyra, and my slave, Xena." That brought enthusiastic applause. "Enjoy the spectacle, for it will be some time before you see its like again, for Queen Ephiny and her Amazons return to their home in three days, obviously taking the noble Heston with them, and my slave will not be performing for a while ... she is in need of some long overdue attitude adjustment."

That drew hearty laughter from the Roman nobility. "Therefore, I suggest you enjoy the fight and have fun with your wagering on this contest, to make amends for the sorry sport we have so far had." He turned his attention to the pair in the pit as the spectators once more chortled at his wit, ignoring Graccus' frown of displeasure, "Now let the combat begin," he ordered.

Xena advanced on Hercules, and shot out a couple of soft blows, allowing him to pull her in close, "How do you want to play this?" she hissed, as he enfolded her in his huge arms appearing to squeeze her in a bear hug. Keeping his head well down he answered softly enough to be heard by her acute hearing, yet to be drowned else by the loud yelling around them, "When you're ready, let out a battle cry. That's the signal for the Amazon's to neutralise the guards, and I'll give you a boost up out of here."

She mimed a vicious pair of blows to his ribs, in fact barely touching him, but Hercules acted the part, releasing her and allowing her to flip away from him. They circled warily. Xena threw some powerful looking punches that actually had the impact of powder-puffs, appearing to double Hercules up, before allowing him to take an arm which he used to pull her over him as he executed a controlled roll backwards, then continued to roll backwards himself to land straddled across her waist.

"How are you going to get out of here?" she demanded.

"Iolaus has a rope," he whispered as he appeared to be trying to strangle her.

"It'll take too long. I'll boost you out of the pit .. it's no trouble for me to flip out of here .. it'll be safer for both of us that way."

"Xena ..." he started to protest.

"No! she hissed at him .. we do it my way." her eyes blazed in warning, before she broke his grip on her neck and slammed him in the back with her knees, shooting him back over her head.

They turned to face each other once more. Her eyes looked a question and he gave a nod in agreement. With a quick look around, Xena screamed out her battlecry, "Ai,ai,ai,ai,ai,ai!" but instead of hurtling forward to attack as everyone expected, Hercules charged her, lodging his booted foot into her cupped hand as she propelled him up and out of the pit. With another wild yell, she took a couple of quick paces and launched herself into a high forward flip that landed her just behind Caesar.

Two solid punches brought down the two closest guards, taken utterly by surprise, and before her main target could react and draw his sword, she'd jabbed her fingers into his neck cutting off the flow of blood to his brain, "Game over!" she snarled as she watched the blood begin to trickle from his nostril.

"Xena?" tried Ephiny, reaching out a tentative hand only to have it shaken away.

The Warrior Princess watched the progress of her 'pinch' confident that the Amazons would take care of the business of neutralising the soldiers, leaving her to watch Caesar die slowly and painfully from lack of blood to his brain. She estimated he had just under 60 heartbeats to savour his agonizing death.

"Xena!" tried Gabrielle as she came up behind her friend.

Without taking her eyes from her erstwhile tormentor, who glared back at her with defiance, the warrior answered with calm coldness, "No, Gabrielle. He has to die, or we'll never be able to live our lives in peace again."

The bard was about to protest when Toris stepped into the debate, "Xena, you once showed me that murder was not the path of justice. You've worked hard to leave the path he started you down .. by killing him he wins. You'll be the murderer he helped forge .. again. Please, for us .. but more especially for yourself, don't do this. He'll meet his just rewards eventually."

They could see the war raging in the Warrior Princess' blue eyes. She so wanted to snuff out the life of the man that had caused her such heartache and pain. Part of her was yelling that if she let him live they'd only have to go through this again and she really didn't want her friends and family to suffer because of her.

And yet!

And yet she knew that if she killed him things would no longer be the same with Gabrielle, with Toris or any of her friends. They would have seen her returning to type and would always wonder about her .. about when she would resort to the quick fix of killing to solve her problems .. and if one day they would be the problem that needed to be fixed.

Letting out a wild yell of anger, frustration and hatred, her hands flashed forward releasing Caesar for the 'pinch' , letting him slowly collapse to the floor. The whole confrontation had just taken moments, and there was still a bloody struggle going on between the Amazons, the soldiers and Graccus' guests.

Delivering a sledgehammer punch to Caesar's temple to ensure he wouldn't be going anywhere too soon, she relieved him of his sword, and decided to wade into the fray. She had a lot of angst to work out and beating up on her Roman guards seemed as good as way of doing it as any. "Toris keep Gabrielle and Ephiny safe," she instructed before diving into the broiling mass of humanity, "And don't let Caesar go anywhere," she called back over her shoulder.