FADE IN

On a fight aboard a spaceship. A group of men and women in navy blue uniforms with silver insignia are trying to fend off a ferocious assault by people in a motley assortment of flight suits. Most of the fighting is hand-to-hand combat with martial arts moves. We see one of the attackers shoot a man in a blue uniform; with a short cry, the man falls to the floor.

The camera pans to a tall black-haired woman in a black and bronze flight suit battling several of the ship's defenders. As the camera zooms closer, we see that it's Xena.

XENA (shouts to some of the others):
     Control room's that way!

She leaps high and kicks two of the ship's defenders in the chest, knocking them down. Of all the people who were fighting her, just one woman is now left standing.

A sliding door opens and a strongly built man with more ornate silver insignia than the rest comes charging toward Xena. He aims his pulser at her. Xena whips around and kicks the woman in the navy blue uniform, pushing her in the way of the pulser ray. The woman's scream is cut short as she falls. Before the captain can recover, Xena shoots the pulser out of hand. He stares at her in shock and anger.

More people in navy blue uniforms come running down the corridor to the scene of the battle and engage the attackers.

XENA (smirking):
     Well, captain. Just in time to give your last order. "Surrender ship."

CAPTAIN:
      And leave my crew to you? Never!

With a bored look, Xena shoots him. He crumples to the floor. There are gasps among the ship's defenders.

XENA:
      I see I have your attention. Now. (Cocks her head) You do have a choice...

She pauses. After a moment's hesitation, one of the crew members throws down his pulser. Several others follow suit.

XENA (with a feral grin):
     I see that I don't need to explain what the choice is. I'm glad we understand each other. (to her warriors) Take their weapons and shackle them.

Xena's warriors begin to disarm the ship's defenders. The image freezes suddenly on one of the attackers: a squat, blonde woman wearing a dented half-helm and dark green armor suit.

XENA'S VOICE (off-camera):
     That's her.

The camera pulls back to reveal the small computer monitor on which the preceding scene had unfolded, then further back to show two people in front of a desk, looking at the screen, which is still in freeze-frame. It's Xena and Hercules, both wearing the light-colored skinsuits that mark them as officers of Justice Station. They are in a sparsely furnished office with chrome walls and dark blue carpeting. This is Xena's office.

HERCULES:
     That's Zeb?

XENA:
     Right. (pause) Too bad we won't be going after her together.

HERCULES:
     Oh, you don't need me there, I bet you'll have her locked up and tied down before I have time to take my judge's pledge.

XENA:
     Who said anything about need? (warmly) I did like having you around.

HERCULES:
     We did make a good team, didn't we? (they exchange a smile) But hey, I'm sure you and, uh ... (stumbles trying to remember the name) Georgette--Gertrude ...

GABRIELLE'S VOICE (behind them):
     Gabrielle.

HERCULES:
     --Gabrielle, are going to get along just fine.

Xena and Hercules turn around to look at Gabrielle, who is standing behind them. She is similarly dressed, with short hair. Visible on the backs of her hands are tattoos similar to the mendhi designs that Gabrielle had in late Season 4.

Gabrielle gives the video screen a final disapproving look. Xena picks up a short, ornate silver dagger from the desk and twirls it in her hands, looking away.

GABRIELLE:
     So--this is glory days, huh?

XENA (coolly):
     Not exactly.

GABRIELLE:
     Your army came and sacked that ship, right? Zeb was one of your own?

XENA (even colder):
     Very perceptive.

GABRIELLE:
     So what happened to all these people, Officer? Sold them to the Andromeda mines, did you?

HERCULES (looking between them nervously):
     You know what? I just remembered--uh, look, I'll just leave you two alone to get acquainted, okay? (To Xena) They tell me the kid's a good lawyer. Just give her a chance.

Xena and Gabrielle ignore Hercules as he leaves the office. Xena twirls the silver dagger in her hands.

XENA (making an effort):
     All right. If we're going to work together, we're going to have to get along. You can start by calling me Xena.

GABRIELLE (likewise trying to be conciliatory):
     Look--Xena--I knew when I got this assignment that you used to be a-- (pauses, searching for a word)

XENA (drops the dagger on the desk and whips around to face Gabrielle):
     Pirate? Murderer?

GABRIELLE (winces slightly):
     Let's stick with "pirate".

XENA:
     Let's.

GABRIELLE:
     What I'm trying to say is--I knew that you had this--past. But it's one thing to know it and another to actually watch--that.

XENA:
     I know. I see that every night. But--Gabrielle--it exists. If it's not me, it's someone else, Zeb, whoever. That's why we're here.

GABRIELLE:
     That's why I'm here. But you? They did tell me you changed sides a couple of years back...they just never said why.

XENA (picks up the dagger and slowly traces its edge with a finger, looking down):
     If you don't understand it... For your sake, I hope you never do.

Gabrielle takes a breath for an indignant response, then seems at a loss for words. Changing the subject, she points to the dagger:

GABRIELLE:
     What's that?

XENA (reluctantly):
     A good-luck charm. I haven't parted with it since I was sixteen.

GABRIELLE (even more taken aback):
     It looks--sharp.

XENA:
     Everyone needs an edge. And a story. (nods at the tattoos on Gabrielle's hands) I see you have yours.

Gabrielle tugs her sleeves down with some embarrassment, but is saved from explanations by a loud "beep." An "Incoming message" signal flashes on the computer monitor. Xena hits a button.

The camera zooms in to show the message:

Hostile activity detected in vicinity of midrange transport vehicle Endeavor, coordinates E34:56T. Vehicle carrying cargo of silver, 340 tons, shielded. 40 crew. Comlink interrupted. Further updates upon availability.

XENA (gets up abruptly):
     Let's go.

GABRIELLE:
     What, out there?! Fieldwork. They said we'd start on the papers.

XENA:
      You can stay here. Do the filing. (she nods at a precariously balanced tower of papers and disks near the desk).

GABRIELLE (brightly):
     Fieldwork it is!

CUT TO

Xena and Gabrielle in the space station's hangar, getting into a small two-seater vehicle ("roach"). The letters on the side of roach spell "ARGO".

GABRIELLE:
     How do you even know it's Zeb's people?

XENA:
     I don't.

She forcefully flips a switch, causing the door of "Argo" to close, and then hits some keys at the control and flips a row of switches.

METALLIC VOICE IN SHIP:
     All clear. Prepare for liftoff!

The camera pulls back to show "Argo" take off vertically and gather speed as the ceiling panels slide open to let it through.

CUT TO

Exterior shot of a space station, with the logo "JUSTICE STATION" visible on one of the panels. We see the "roach" flying off into space.

CUT TO

The deck of a raided ship. The camera pans over dead bodies on the floor. Several rescue crew medics in white suits and oxygen masks are treating the wounded.

Pan to Xena and Gabrielle, striding briskly onto the flight deck, Gabrielle visibly making an effort to keep up with Xena's pace. Xena stops next to a medic tending to a wounded man. Her face is closed and grim.

WOUNDED MAN (looks up at Xena):
     You're too late... (groans) Always too late.

Before Xena can answer, she's approached by an armed member of the rescue crew.

RESCUE CREW MEMBER:
     Officer. Wish I had good news for you.

XENA:
     Nothing usable from the surveillance cameras?

RESCUE CREW MEMBER (shakes his head):
     The chip's been taken.

XENA:
     No doubt. (under her breath) I taught them well.

Gabrielle gives her a sharp look. Xena squats down next to the wounded man.

XENA (gently):
     What's your name?

WOUNDED MAN:
     Lieutenant Elos, Ma'am.

XENA:
     Can you tell me anything about them? Their leader?

LT. ELOS:
     A woman--not as tall as you, Ma'am--a blonde--

Xena takes a small handheld computer notebook off her belt and turns it on, showing the screen to Lt. Elos.

XENA:
     Is that her?

LT. ELOS (winces as the medic gives him a shot in the shoulder):
      Yes.

Xena stands up, her face unreadable. Gabrielle glances at her, then squats down next to Lt. Elos and reaches out to touch his hand.

GABRIELLE (softly):
     Thank you. We'll get them, I promise. (with a strained smile that's meant to be reassuring) You'll be all right.

XENA:
     Come on, Gabrielle. (Under her breath as they walk away) Be careful what you promise these people. After what they've been through, the last thing they need is empty words.

GABRIELLE:
     But we are going to get them. There'll be an arrest order issued the moment we confirm Zeb's ID.

XENA:
     You really do trust the system. That's very touching, but good luck finding Zeb by the time that order is stamped and verified.

As they talk, they are now walking down a corridor. Medics occasionally walk past them carrying some of the wounded on stretchers.

GABRIELLE:
     They're going to sell that silver, right? We can track that.

XENA:
     Definitely, Miss Lawyer. Just look under "Zeb's Discount Plunder" on the commodities exchange.

GABRIELLE:
     Ha ha. I am a lawyer, Xena. I know all about dirty deals. (Off Xena's look) Not from experience!

XENA (grins):
     I didn't say it.

GABRIELLE (grumbles):
     You thought it. I'm sure you have enough experience with the black market in silver to know what Zeb is going to do next.

XENA:
     Yes, I do.

She speeds up, leaving Gabrielle behind for a moment.

GABRIELLE (speeds up, desperately trying to keep up with Xena):
     Wait! What's she--what are you going to do? What are we going to do?

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER

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Shipper Seasons Opening Credits - Season 9 (.wmv - 4.37 MB)