X.W.P. 3257: WORST CASE SCENARIO

pt.14

Following the horrible news that they had received from Aphrodite's phone call,  Xena and Gabrielle began to rush outside when Ares walked into the hallway of the police precinct.

ARES
Where are you going?

Xena turned to Ares with a worried expression on her face.

XENA
Aphrodite just called. Alti's got Luka.

ARES
What is her obsession with that kid?

XENA
Don't know and honestly i don't care. But I'm going after her.

Ares walked over to them.

ARES
Here I'll take you both home. It's a lot quicker this way. I'll get your cars later.

Ares put a hand on Xena and Gabrielle's shoulders and then popped the three of them to Xena and Gabrielle's apartment. Once there they all looked at the trashed living room and saw Aphrodite sitting sadly on the couch. Aphrodite looked up when she saw the quick flash of light and saw that Xena,Gabrielle and Ares had appeared. She immediately got up and hurried over to Xena and Gabrielle.

APHRODITE
I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say. I...

Gabrielle hugged Aphrodite.

GABRIELLE
It's okay. It's not your fault. We know that you would never just let something like this happen.

XENA
Gabrielle's right Aphrodite. We don't blame you for this at all. This is all on Alti.

Xena put her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder and looked at her, knowing that she also blamed herself for Luka's kidnapping.

XENA
You hear me. This is strictly Alti's doing. She's the only person to blame here.

Gabrielle put her hand on Xena's as she looked back at her sadly.

XENA
We'll get him back. I'll make sure of it.

Gabrielle slowly nodded slightly. Ares who had been standing there quietly cleared his throat to get the three women's attention as he learned his arm against the wall he was next to and spoke up.

ARES
Okay now that we're all in agreement on who the villan is here, how do we actually go about finding Alti?

Xena, Gabrielle and Aphrodite turned their attention to Ares and the pressing matter at hand.

XENA
Good question.

Xena thought for a moment.

XENA
Giving the fact that she obviously needs to preform some kind of ritual before actually making the sacrifices, we should still have time to stop her. Aphrodite how long ago did she take Luka?

APHRODITE
I called you as soon as Alti left with him.

XENA
Okay so let's just say it's been about ten minutes. Probably less, but just to be safe let's go with that. So there's a good chance that she hasn't gotten the chance to do anything yet.

GABRIELLE
Still we need to act fast Xena. If you're right I doubt it'll take Alti long to set up. And we still don't know where she took Luka.

APHRODITE
Do you think she took him to where she was keeping Xena.

XENA
No Alti's too smart for that. There's no way she'd go back somewhere that she figures we'd check.

APHRODITE
So where would she go?

ARES
Don't know, but we'll find out. I already alerted everyone under my command to start searching. They're combing over the whole city and the outskirts as we speak.