Matchsticks

[Nick Ryder]

"There are still things only his higher lieutenants know and that could help." Nick replied. "Just like me, not everyone knows what I do even though I am very open too but I keep a lot more close to the chest and only to trusted individuals. Always have been like that. Hey I've been in Intelligence since I was in my twenties, married to a spy, been a spy master for decades. Even something inconsequential can be useful."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Well," she said. "Let's hope she has something useful, though I think her value won't be information but, her abilities."

[Nick Ryder]

"Still, could be helpful to us." Nick said as he took a swig off his bottle of soda. "I think it might be... spiritually good for you and her to meet. One Kat betrayed you, but redeemed herself with Aimee and Olivia. Saved Lana and those kids. But she was dead before you two could reconcile. And maybe she needs to see a version of her Bellatrix that isn't an evil harpy bitch." he winked at her. "As brooding and dark as you think you are... you're not anywhere near her darkness and I still don't think you could get close to that. Been around me too long. And my daughter. I keep picturing a tiny version of her on my shoulder whenever I feel myself going down a bit darker path. That perky little voice telling me 'daaad... you really don't wanna do that.' And good luck getting that image out of your head. For my birthday once, she gave me a tiny little handmade I might add, doll version of herself with wings that could sit on my shoulder and had a little voice box." he chuckled. "And then it fell off my shoulder and the dog ran around with it. I fixed it but it's still in my garage in my tool chest."

[Rebecca Talon]

"I am not brooding and dark!" She exclaimed as she playfully slapped his shoulder. "Just conflicted. "Be careful with this Katherine Donovan. Once you go dark it is difficult to return to the lighr. Not impossible, but difficult."

[Nick Ryder]

"Hey I kind of turned K'n'zy... which we all thought was impossible. Nothing is impossible. Just hard. If she's genuine about trying to reform, she'll do it. Out of spite but it'll happen." Nick said and rubbed his shoulder. "Look, I promise if you turn dark, I'll be there to turn you back. By the way... did you get the impression that Bellatrix and Dominus are... hooking up? Not that it hasn't gone through my head more than once in my single days, but seriously... that could be dangerous down the road. I'm not one for nipping things in the bud but... they have time dilation tech and artificial growth chambers. If they can grow clones they can accelerate a child. That'd be a horrible combination. Look at Jackson... Nancy's psionic ability without her control and a sadistic genius for a father with a huuuuuge misogynistic side. Little bastard nearly wiped out the Alliance in one fell swoop if he didn't get greedy or think with his dick with Solara."

[Rebecca Talon]

"But, we learned from it. I don't disagree that that is a frightening possibility, and if true, which I very well might be, what are you willing to do about it?"

[Nick Ryder]

"Dunno... cross that bridge when we get to it. Like I said, it's not even about taking out Dominus and Bellatrix, it's the network they created. Honestly... wiping out the old Pythus Sector is still a plan Z option." Nick said with a heavy sigh. "Course if I did that, I'd be no better than him, but... we have no idea where he's got hidden bases or clones or whatever. Given what we've experienced, while some of his forces could be turned most aren't and will fight to the death proudly. At least with the Imperium, most of the loyalists stood down once the treaties were signed and Julie massacred the hold outs on her own. The one time I actually didn't mind that she kept Kinsey for a little while, did our job for us. Still... every time I think of Earth, I see it cracking and splitting and turning into rubble. I woke up half on fire from a nightmare the other night. And I really don't know if there is anything we can do to really stop it. Like it's inevitable."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Maybe that's why we are getting some much help from alternate realities," Rebecca suggested. "It seems like for every evil there is a good that crosses over. It's like the universe is balancing things to help us out. Never forget the future is unwritten. We can steer it."

[Nick Ryder]

"Although time does have a way of wanting to happen." Nick reminded her. "But you're right, we are getting a lot of alternate reality support and like I said, if there's a way he's able to get help from other realities that are of his bent, I'm sure there are enough that are of our's... just have to figure out how to get them and send them back if we can. It's confusing enough with two versions of some people, I don't know how it would be with three or four or more."

[Rebecca Talon]

"You don't have to remind me," She grumbled.