DAHAK DEATH

(Chapter 2)

By

Tyval


Summary: Two time travelers from the year 2000 follow the incomplete and newly discovered last scroll written by Gabrielle. The scroll tells how they joined forces with Xena and Gabrielle to fight the evil Dahak. And history can't be changed!

Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, and Dahak are owned by MCA/Universal. These versions of Questar, Mace, China Dragon, Billy Ray, and G.O.L.D. (Global Order of Law and Defense), Golden Girl (Apella) are owned by me under my real name since 1986 and in no way infringe on others who might have characters with similar names.

For the purists out there, this story takes place sometime after the reconciliation of Xena and Gabrielle in an alternate reality. Due to the events in this story, they will not journey to India, die in Rome and other 4th season happenings in this reality.


Xena found herself drawn to Questar more and more as they talked. He was totally open with her. With Xena, Questar felt a kindred spirit. Strange coming from such different backrounds. Xena told him of her childhood in Amphipolis, how her desire to protect her home had led her to learn the art of war, her betrayal at the hands of Caesar, then how she spent years as the tool of Ares before her redemption by Hercules.

Xena told Questar everything, the bad as well as the good. She didn't know why, but somehow knew, that no matter what she had done in the past, this man could accept her for what she now was. In the presence of Questar, Xena felt like a part of her very soul was returned to her.

Questar's life seemed more unnatural than Xena's. The son of a dedicated man who enforced the law. Questar called him the 'Police Commissioner of Los Angeles' and explained that that meant that his father held a very high rank. Questar had spent all of his free time as a child with his best friend China Dragon in the dojo of Dragon's guardian. Though not related by blood, Questar and Dragon were 'brothers' in every sense of the word. They were so much alike that they didn't even need to speak to know what the other was thinking.

The only other person who was in their circle was a slightly older boy named Billy Ray. Dragon and Questar were 'brothers,' Billy Ray was a mutual best friend. As they grew older it was oon apparent that all three boys were different. Billy Ray could run faster than the wind, Questar was stronger than many men combined and also had certain 'powers of the mind,' and China Dragon, while he posessed no powers, developed skill in the martial arts far beyond any man or demi-god that had ever lived.

"I'm good, but Dragon's magic," Questar said, sadly smiling. "Maybe that's why the Chinese pantheon chose him to be their 'God of the Martial Arts.' They picked the 100 greatest fighters of all time, plucking them from various time periods for a tournament. Yuan Ti, the Chinese 'God of War' asked Dragon who he wanted as his first opponent. China Dragon said he wanted to fight all 99 of them at the same time. Everyone was surprised when he actually won, and rather handily too."

"You seem sad about his winning. Why is that?" Xena asked.

"He's not the same. Dragon looks like he's made out of solid gold, but what's worse is that he's become hard, emotionless. he dissapears for days, even weeks sometimes. I've been holding G.O.L.D. together for the last year," Questar continued. "When he does show up he won't talk to anyone. Not me, not Billy, not even his wife, Princess Tara."

"And Mace?" Xena asked. "What about him?"

"That's about the only good thing that's come out of this is that Mace and I finally got close. There's 10 years age difference between us. I had Dragon and Billy, and later on Apella, Blue, and Mei Wong. There was no room for a real little brother in my life," Questar sadly said. "Max and Dragon were never close. I guess Max even kind of resented Dragon for stealng me from him or something."

"Max?" Xena asked puzzled.

"Oh, sorry. That's Mace. That's his real name, Maximilian Starr. Max is code-named Mace for various reasons. Only his friends and family call him Max," Questar said," Don't ask what my real name is."

Questar told Xena more. How at age 17 China Dragon and Billy Ray had joined G.O.L.D., then headed up by the Amerind shamen Bearclaw. Bearclaw had wanted Questar too, but Questar had yet to master his psionic powers and had stayed behind. But fate would often intervene and Questar assisted G.O.L.D. on many occasions, becoming an unofficial member.

It was then that the Chaos Lords broke free and renewed their war with mankind. But man had grown stronger, both in technology and in the appearance of mutants and meta-humans. While some used their powers for evil, others fought for good. From the beginning of their new war, the Chaos Lords saw the potential of China Dragon G.O.L.D., making them their first targets.

Working behind the scenes at first, the Chaos Lords took control of Billy Ray and forced him to splinter the group and disgrace himself. During the second phase of their plan Bearclaw was seriously injured and forced to retire. Thinking that G.O.L.D. was finished, the Chaos Lords revieled themselves and murdered the now helpless Bearclaw.

That had been their biggest mistake. China Dragon rebuilt G.O.L.D. starting with Questar now in complete control of his powers. Adding to them was the woman who won Dragon's heart Tara, followed by Shiro and then others. Many were the heroes who fell, Twoswords, Behemoth, Barracuda, Sgt. Hawk, and many others. But always, new heroes would rise up to take their place.

Without having human followers for thousands of years, the Chaos Lords were far weaker than they had once been. Nor could they regin their previous levels of power without followers. One by one G.O.L.D. cut them down. The tide of battle began to change and soon the remaining Chaos Lords found themselves on the defensive.

Billy Ray was redeemed and returned to the fight. Then China Dragon earned his current demi-god status and the Chaos Lords could hang it up. Yuan Ti, a far different 'God of War' than Ares, even joined in. Yuan Ti advocated such things as war only in self defense, protection of civilians above all else, combat only between warriors and other ideas that Ares would think was weird for a War God.

"That almost brings us up to now. Dragon's taken himself out of the picture, but there's only 2 left, Daemonus and Dahak," Questar said," As fantastic as it may sound I really am from over 2000 years in the future. The name of Xena was lost from history until the discovery of the first of what we now call the 'Xena Chronicles' during the 1940's. More of Gabrielle's writings have been discovered over the years causing a worldwide sensation. Two weeks ago, my time, a friend of mine, an archaeologist named Steven Guard, discovered several scrolls written by Gabrielle in Tarlocus. After reading them he turned them over to the government in Athens. All except one."

"Why only one?" Xena asked, totally intrigued by all the things that Questar had told her.

"That one is the last recorded scroll of Gabrielle," Questar grimly said. "It's dated today and tomorrow. I'm sorry, I have to tell you all this. The scroll is unfinished and severely water damaged, but parts of it are readable. After tomorrow, you and Gabrielle vanish from recorded history."

"I see. I've faced death before future man, it holds no terror for me," Xena said," But for gentle Gabrielle I would wish for a different fate."

Questar's story was indeed fantastic and hard to believe. But gazing into Questar's deep blue eyes Xena somehow knew he spoke truly. Questar was so much like Hercules. A man who used his powers to help others, not for fame or personal glory, but simply because he could. It would be so easy to fall in love with him, Xena thought, not sure if she hadn't already.

"The scroll doesn't say that we die," Questar said "It doesn't say what happens to any of us."

"We? Us?" Xena asked confused.

"I can't read Greek, all I know is what Steve translated. I also don't know the exact wording, but it goes something like this; And on that fateful day, two men from the future, Questar and Mace as they were known, travelled far to the city of Tarlocus. There they fought the evil of the Dahak at the side of Xena, the warrior princess and the faithful Gabrielle, never more to be seen by the eyes of the Gods!" Questar said. " Uh, there's another line in there somewhere."

So, he's hiding something after all, Xena thought. Questar excused himself for a nature call. Now suspicious, Xena silently spied on him. On a day that had been full of surprises, this was another one. By Zeus! Is he a man or a centaur? Xena thought as she saw the manhood of Questar. Not even Hercules was as well endowed as this future man. Xena hid a rare blush as she composed herself before Questar returned. He had regained the points he'd lost and gotten a few more to boot.

"I hope you won't think I'm hiding anything, Xena," Questar fumbled. "There is another part that Steve translated. A part I'm reluctant to reveil simply because I don't know what's going to happen to any of us. We may all be dead tomorrow, we might win, the scroll didn't say."

"And why is that, future man? How can I accept anything that you've told me if you won't tell me everything?" Xena demanded.

"The other part that Steve made out was personal. And history can't be changed," Questar said grimly. "Oh, I've tried a few times. I've failed to save good men. I've been unable to prevent disasters. In my own time, I can stop evil men, when I travel in time I can't. Dahak is from my time, at least the one we're going to fight is. The one in your time is still imprisoned and thereby neutralized. It can get very confusing without a scorecard."

"And what could be so personal that you feel you need to hide it?" Xena sternly asked.

"It's about Mace and Gabrielle," Questar answered. "It's also about you and me."

"I must know, for the sake of Gabrielle. If there is any way to keep her safe I must know," Xena said.

"I don't know how safe she'll be. Mace and Gabrielle get married," Questar grinned.

"What? That's wonderful! Anyone can see that they love each other," Xena perked up at the possible good news.

"She could be a widow by tomorrow night. And so could you," Questar dropped the other shoe," Dahak is extremely powerful. At best, our chance of beating him is 3-1 in his favor. But, I have to try, and so does Max. This is what we do. Even if it costs me my own life I will rid the world of the Dahak."

Questar's words penetrated the depths of Xena's soul. Questar and Mace were actually prepared to die just for a chance to defeat a terrible evil. Xena felt a strange stirring in her heart. Only twice before had she truly felt this way; Marcus, her first love and Hercules, who had redeemed her heart. Yet even the fire she had felt for those two men was like a candle compared to a volcano that this future man aroused in her.

"Gabrielle must be getting worried about us," Xena nervously said.

Questar leaned forward and gently cupped her face with his strong, but gentle hands.

"She's in no danger my warrior princess," Questar softly said as he gently kissed Xena's lips.

Back at the camp Mace had opened up the cooler and taken out two diet Dr. P*pp*rs. Mace handed one to Gabrielle and showed her how to open it. Gabrielle thought that she kind of liked this strange drink.

"Not bad, what is it?" Gabrielle smiled.

"Diet soft drink," Mace returned her smile.

"Diet? That's for overweight people, not for men who look as good as you do. Uh, I mean," Gabrielle fumbled. Stupid, stupid, stupid! was Gabrielle's thought.

"I've got to keep my girlish figure," Mace said in an eunich's lisp while striking a muscle pose.

Gabrielle totally lost it as she burst out laughing. Mace had timed it so that she wouldn't be taking a drink and choke. Mace was merciless, every time Gabrielle tried to gain control of herself Mace would strike another pose and make 'thilly queen' cracks. Questar and Mace weren't bigots, but they didn't believe in PC bullshit either.

Finally Mace stopped before she hurt herself. Mace loved hearing Gabrielle laugh. She's been hurt so many times, by Callisto, Hope, even Perdicus and Xena, Mace thought. Gabrielle was happier than she had been in a long time. But still, even with Mace, there was still the fear. The fear that she would lose him.

Every man that Gabrielle had ever loved or strongly liked ended up dead. The only man who managed to stay alive around her was one she wished would just leave her alone. That buffoon Joxer had more lives than a cat. Why can't he find a nice she-demon and stop bothering me? Gabrielle thought.

Mace pulled out a something that looked like the books Gabrielle had seen in the east. Mace had a silly evil grin on his face.

"Questar would kill me if he knew I brought this," Mace said. "Where I come from we have a uh, magic box that makes very life like paintings called photographs. I brought this to prove I really am from the future and to show you a little bit of where I live."

Gabrielle was stunned by the realism of the 'paintings.' Mace hoped to tell her about cameras someday. The first picture showed Questar and Mace on each side of an older man in an unusual blue uniform. The next picture showed them on either side of a fiftyish plump blond woman. The woman still retained some evidence of once having been a great beauty. In the third picture, all 4 were side by side. Gabrielle noticed the subtle hand holding between the older man and the woman. They were still very much in love.

"Your parents?" Gabrielle asked noting the resemblances.

"Yes. Dad's now the police commissioner. Questar's more like him I guess. Except for my size and build I think I'm more like mom," Mace said.

Turning the page was an older colorless picture of a naked baby on a rug with the word 'Max' written at the top. Mace quickly tried to turn the page, blushing, but Gabrielle stopped him.

"Let me see that. Oh, how cute. That's you right? It has to be or you wouldn't be so embarrassed," Gabrielle giggled.

"Please turn the page," Mace nervously said, wondering how that picture had gotten in there," Ah, that's more like it."

The picture was funny, but it puzzled Gabrielle. A much younger Questar, about 18, was in back of an 8 year old blond boy, that looked like Mace. On the right of Questar was another man who looked almost exactly like Mace did now except that he was oriental. In front of him, next to Mace was a big dog. Questar had 2 fingers behind the head of the oriental man, who had 2 fingers behind the head of the boy, who had 2 fingers behind the head of the dog. All 4 had huge bones in their mouths.

"Huh? I don't understand," Gabrielle said.

"There's Questar, that's Dragon, me and the dog was named Blue," Mace smiled remembering," Blue was a police dog until he got too old. Dragon adopted him. Unfortunately poor Blue died in his sleep shortly after this picture was made."

"Not that. How can this be? This man looks like you," Gabrielle said.

"You think so? That's China Dragon, not me. Mom once said the same thing. She also said something weird once. She said that Dragon reminded her of her late sister," Mace said. "But of course I never met my aunt so I never did understand that. Here's one of Questar, Dragon and poor Billy Ray. Man, what the Chaos Lords did to him."

In this picture Questar, Dragon and a light skinned black man were wearing huge multi colored wigs that Mace told her were called 'fake afros'. All three had silly looks and body positions. Gabrielle had to smile.

"Those three were inseperable. I was just a tag-along nuisance to them back then," Mace sighed. "Questar tried to keep me out of G.O.L.D. after my powers kicked in because he didn't want to see me get hurt. I had to really prove myself to get in."

Mace turned the page and was shocked at the picture that greeted him. During a trip to Japan a year ago, a group of pretty teenage Japanese super-heroines had formed a Mace fan club. This picture was 12 of them, naked except for masks, gloves, and boots, holding up pictures and signs of Mace. Mace quickly snatched up the book and quickly leafed through all the rest of the pages. Page after page was of him in embarrassing situations. These weren't the pictures he'd picked out!

On the last page was the answer. Enjoy the pictures, little brother was written on it. Questar! His brother had known he was going to try this and had switched books.

"Aaaaaarrrrrgggg!! Questar! You tricked me again! He's always one step ahead of me," Mace sighed calming down.

"Hey, it's okay," Gabrielle said," It's natural for siblings to play pranks on each other. Especially for an older one. He does love you doesn't he?"

"Yeah, but I guess maybe I am just a little bit jealous and envious," Mace said, comforted. "He's always been stronger, smarter, and sneakier than I am. Questar just seems to always ride in on the white horse, save the day, and get the girl."

"Not this girl," Gabrielle softly said, liking Mace even more.

"Gabrielle, I-I love you," Mace stumbled.

"Oh, Mace," Gabrielle sighed happily.

"Gabrielle, no secrets, my name, my real name is Max, Max Starr," Mace continued. "I never really liked it much, so I go by my code-name Mace usually."

"Max, I like it," Gabrielle smiled.

"Gabrielle, I have to show you something I wasn't supposed to. Questar told me not to reviel this until he thought you were ready," Mace said. "I can't do it. You must know who and what I am. Please, please don't scream."

Gabrielle was saddened, her happy smile vanished. Gabrielle had flipped for Mace completely and now he was going to try to molest her. Gabrielle gripped her staff tightly, preparing to fight and scream. But Mace pointed his hand at the pile of firewood. Fire seemed to shoot from his fingertips igniting the wood instantly.

That was it! That's what he wanted to show her! Gabrielle sighed in relief as Mace leaned back and opened up another can of Dr. P*pp*r. Mace had no intention of doing anything bad to her. Gabrielle smiled at the grinning Mace. Then Gabrielle thought about what he had just done and her eyes grew wide. Stunned, as that realization hit her, Gabrielle slowly stood up, and screamed!

Questar and Xena had kissed twice when they heard Gabrielle's scream. Questar thought Dahak goon or a monster, Xena thought Mace. Rounding the corner of the shelter, Questar burst out laughing when he saw the fire and his embarrised little brother. Xena advanced on the sheepish looking Mace until Gabrielle stepped in front of her to shield him.

"It's not what you think, Xena! He didn't do anything to me. I just overreacted to something he showed me," Gabrielle quickly said.

"I'll just bet," Xena sternly said, wondering if the brothers shared THAT in common.

"Uh, I mean, he showed me something he could do," Gabrielle continued," He's been a perfect gentleman."

"And what could he show you to make you scream like that?" Xena demanded.

"Probably this," Questar laughed, pointing to a tree.

Flames leaped from his fingers instantly incinerating the tree.

"We're a big hit at barbecues," Questar smiled. "I told the little show-off to wait until we could show you our powers without you thinking we're evil wizards or something like that. Our powers are based on science and the accident of birth."

"Yes, you did say you had powers, but I never dreamed that...." Xena trailed off.

"Then why didn't we just fry those Dahak troops? We're lawmen, warriors, not killers. Killing's the easy way," Questar said. "It takes no skill to kill someone. I'm not afraid of it, I will if I have to, but if I ever start liking it, well, then I'll be no different than Dahak, Sakahuru, Prof. Death, and all the other scum I take down."

Whatever ponts the brothers had lost were given back by Xena and Gabrielle.

"Hey, I'm starving!" Gabrielle said, easing the mood. "You got anything to eat?"

"As a matter of fact, dinner's on us. Figuratively of course," Mace smiled, remembering the Xena story about the magic scroll that Aphrodite had enchanted that caused everything Gabrielle wrote to happen.

Mace passed out sodas while Questar dug out packages ofthings he called 'hot dogs' and 'marshmallows'. Questar passed out 4 wooden handled pronged metal rods and showed Xena how to use them.

"Don't ask what they're made of, we don't know, we don't want to know," Questar said. "You'll love them."

Mace showed Gabrielle how to use hers, their hands were touching too much. Gabrielle's fear of him was already gone. True to their word, Xena and Gabrielle found that they did like hot dogs, especially since Mace told them that were definately not made of dogs.

Then came the marshmallows. Gabrielle was practically in Mace's lap by now. Gabrielle loved the gooey mess and giggled as Mace licked her fingers clean. Xena smiled knowingly, but thought about breaking it up when Questar hit her in the head with a thrown marshmallow. Smiling she turned as he hit her with a second marshmallow. After the third marshmallow, Xena threw one back at him. A bizarre marshmallow fight broke out until all 4 of them were laughing like children.

Questar and Mace then puled out strange lookng lutes they called guitars. Both men had good voices. They played and sang 'stone ballads'? from an eagle, a skinner named Leo-Nard, a seeker named Bob, and a few others. Xena and Gabrielle's favorite though was the last song. Mace picked up an odd looking silver flute and Questar sang about a group of noble paladins, the 'Knights in White Satin.'

Xena and Gabrielle were not going to be outdone. Showing the men a rhythm to drum out on the backs of their lutes, Xena and Gabrielle showed the men an amazon dance. Both future men found this highly erotic. Xena noticed the bulges in their pants. Apparently Mace did share that trait with his brother, though not quite Questar's equal.

"Centaur blood," Xena breathed so softly that only Gabrielle could hear.

"What are you talking about?." Gabrielle whispered back.

"Never mind. I think you'll find out soon enough," Xena smiled as she whispered, noting the way that Gabrielle and Mace looked at each other.

He's a good young man, Xena thought, the kind of man that Gabrielle deserves. Mace would never beat her or abuse her. The fact that he would be harder to kill than any man Gabrielle had ever liked was another plus. If any of us live through tomorrow that is, Xena thought.

Questar and Mace cleaned up the camp and carried the trash out to burn it so they wouldn't take a chance of upsetting the women again. Gabrielle lay on her back counting the still early evening stars. Xena lay on her sde, watching how at peace the little bard was.

"He's wonderful," Gabrielle said dreamily. "I think I'm slightly older than he is, maybe a year. But that's not enough to make a differnce. What about you?"

"What about me?" Xena smiled.

"You knowwww. Questarrrr," Gabrielle giggled.

"He's a fascinating man," Xena said. "He has lost one brother, gained another back, and leads a war. I never thought that there could be another man like Hercules, but Questar seems to be that man. And besides, he's about a year older than me. Not enough to make a difference."

Both women laughed as Mace returned alone.

"Questar's back at that spring trying to make hisself purty," Mace said the last part in exaggerated hillbilly making the 2 women laugh again.

"I uh, need to check on Argo," Xena lied.

THE END