Star Trek: Terra Alpha

<Pythus Sector - Vella LaCava Station>

A pair of figures robed in black from head to foot entered Dominus' throne room. They were escorted by a small group of soldiers clad in white ablative armor. The dark pair's faces obscured by their drawn hoods.

They had entered with out introduction or even permission, and the hall fell silent from the interruption. One of the guards chose to take exception to this and moved to stop them.

With a flash of red kliden he fell to the deck with a heavy thump. The other guards nervously glanced at each other, and to Dominus awaiting his orders. No one moved.

The party stopped at the food of the dias, and the hooded figures drew back their hoods to reveal the twin cinnamon and auburn heads of Rebecca Sandoval and Katherine Donovan.

Without speaking Rebecca dug into her robe and extracted a severed head by the hair. Tossing it at Dominus it bounced once and akwardly rolled the distance between them. It stared up at him with familiar unblinking eyes. Dominus' own eyes.

"I see you killed another version of me." Dominus said coldly. "Am I to take it as a threat or as a resume that you intend to do this to the other Nicholas Ryders?"

"It's a statement," she said coldly. "This was not any Nicholas Ryder, he was my Nicholas Ryder. He and his bitch wife betrayed me... they betrayed the Terran Empire.

"I see one of your..." She hesitated searching for the right word. "Several of your brethren failed you. Lost you your station and your pets. We have something in common that way. Failure. Perhaps I can be of use to you, and in turn, you help me exact revenge on Julie Ryder and her concubine."

"What do you require?" Dominus said as he looked at her. "I've been failed by Sandovals and Donovans, what makes you two different? And I told that Dominus not to get so damn cocky about keeping Starbase Python as his prize. No matter. There are other stations and there is never a shortage of slaves and pets." he glanced down at the thin blonde that his feet rested upon. "If I give you my resources, I expect results, or you will join the others." he gestured to a long red braid that draped across his 'throne'. "Like other Nicholas Ryders, I enjoy doing things with my hands when I am bored... this is from the scalps of ten Sandovals. This one from nearly fifteen Donovans. It just keeps getting longer."

She absently flicked at something from the back of her gloved hand. "Am I supposed to be impressed? I know you are a pig and only like women to screw and kill." She shrugged, "But, I'm not like the others. How many of those Sandovals were Ajem'dasis masters? How many of them ruled their respective Earths?" She leveled her gaze upon him, "No... you needn't answer that. Just like you are doing a spectacular job of failing without my help."

She glanced at Donovan and they turned to leave, "Come, this is the wrong reality. This Dominus is an even more of an idiot that our own. I'll have Jack select another reality."

"Wait." Dominus said and stood up. "The Council of Dominus is sometimes... ineffective but we have ruled over 138 different realities." he said and got up and approached her. "Perhaps you are different, I may be all you say I am... but I am also one who knows when to... pick someone who has shown the right strength. You are right, few Rebecca Sandovals have become Ajem'dasis Masters or ruled their Earths, although let us be completely honest, Earth is hardly a prize any longer. Terra Alphas, those are the money planets, and this reality's Nick Ryder is just wasting it, he has yet to tap its true potential. Earth is old, used. Barely suitable for habitation." He cocked his head slightly. "If you think you can do what others cannot... I will give you what you need to accomplish your goals."

"I don't care about Earth, nor do I care about Terra Alpha. Only making your dear sweet wife beg for death, then I will make her my pet, and continue the torment. She and her lover can wait." She reached out with the ijulna and the head floated towards them. "I will help you first, then you will help me. Betray me and you'll wish you were him. It was such a clean death so little pain. My one weakness. I couldn't bring myself to torture him even if he deserved it for his treason. I'll not make the same mistake twice."

"I should hope not." Dominus said with a half smile. "Julie Lei... any Julie Lei you encounter... is your's to deal with. However you wish. Just make sure it sticks, whatever you do to her."

"I only want MY Julie Lei," the Ajem said coldly. "And will take all of our resources to accomplish. But, like I said, that can wait. Any other Julie's I encounter will..." She smiled maniacally, "Will be able to carry their heads in their arms in the afterlife. As will any Rebecca Sandovals or Nick Ryders."