Hel on Two Legs

[Dominus]

Dominus walked through the Command Center of his new base, hidden deep within the new Pythus Sector, shrouded in a nebula and equipped with a functional multi-dimensional rift generator system to allow it to 'hide' in other realities and shift with other versions of itself. It was a near identical copy of the old Starbase Python but one from another alternate reality.

"Report." Dominus ordered.

"The cores from the planets we destroyed have sufficiently powered our systems, we should have more than enough power now to keep Starbase Hel from hitting the red line for at least a decade." one of the engineers said with a smile. "And... we four other Dominus' have also achieved the same so we have four realities we can phase shift with if the need arises."

"Excellent." Dominus nodded his head and gestured to a thin blonde woman cuffed to a console. "And what of her?"

"She had tried to sabotage our computers. We think she's from a reality we already decimated." the engineer pulled her hair and revealed a barcode on the back of her neck. "Looks like one of Jackson 2387's slaves."

"Attractive, what is her name?" Dominus crouched down and grabbed her chin. "I'd ask you, but something tells me you're a liar."

"She's an Andra Starr. Typically they're in relationships with an engineer by the name of Steve Malone." the engineer said with a hum. "Could be useful to us."

"Have her processed and prepared, we may have our new mole." Dominus said and stroked her cheek. "Today is your lucky day girl... you actually get a purpose. Other than simply being a punching bag." he flexed his hand. "Speaking of which, I need another one. Old one is starting to smell." he chuckled.

Dominus put his hand on the engineer's shoulder and whispered. "You did well... take the girl... enjoy her. She won't remember a thing." he chuckled. "I recall you have been... single for quite some time."

"Thank you Lord Dominus." the engineer put his hand to his chest. "Hail Dominus."

"Hail me." Dominus replied with a grin.

[Bellatrix]

"You do like your ego stroked," Bellatrix said coldly. "No, I won't put my hand up and hail you. I have... we have a rather large problem."

[Dominus]

"I don't expect you to, we're equals of course." Dominus said as he looked over at Bellatrix. "So what new large problem are we going to have to deal with now?"

[Bellatrix]

"My apprentice has betrayed me," Bellatrix said. To someone unfamiliar with her, you would have thought Bellatrix was relaying the weather. But, if you knew her, it usually meant someone was going to die. Often in the most painful way possible.

[Dominus]

"Oh I see. Pity, she had nice legs." Dominus commented dryly. "What do you need?"

[Bellatrix]

"Nothing at the moment," she said truthfully. "I will find her, but if your little birdies hear something I would appreciate it if you passed it along. You should also know she took the Talon woman with her."

[Dominus]

"Told you she'd try to escape..." Dominus replied and sighed as he looked at her. "Ryder children in this reality are so impetuous. It must be the Lei in them."

[Bellatrix]

Bellatrix sighed, "You did, and I expected it. What I didn't see was her ally. Though, Lord Draven came back distracted after you had the Narlin spawn aborted. Still, I did not see this coming."

[Dominus]

"Nor I, I thought your Donovan was more... like us, but she apparently shared that in common with this reality's version of her. Turned on the Ajem, at least she died in the process." Dominus said and crossed his arms. "Still, having Talon as long as you did was useful, our 'geeks' have managed to copy her DNA codes and enough voice print pattern recognition to be helpful in a battle situation, that is providing she returns to her old life. Of course, what the Artist did to her, will remain with her for the rest of her life. She'll eventually get darker. More ruthless. So she's got Draven, she'll be her only ally in time."

[Bellatrix]

"I think this reality's was more like us," Bellatrix responded. "But, she has always had a soft spot for children." She shrugged, "Oh well, she is a dead woman now. The downside is that Draven knows everything. The location of this base, the weaknesses of the Vindicator. Everything. One small mercy is that we eliminated the Narlin kids. Her going back and telling everyone that their heirs were alive would undo all of our gains on Talaria. I have to admit I initially questioned that. I thought it wasted a resource."