Welcome to Hel

[Jack Ryder]

"Ah but you see that's the brilliant part... we're going to live. Just you see Leftenant... " Jack said as he leaned his head against the wall as he reclined. "Dominus made a bloody blunder when he took me."

[Ashley Walker]

The door banged open, and a pair of muscle bound meatheads entered the cell. "Was that the one that bit you?" One of them asked pointing a meaty finger at Ashley.

"Yeah, Harry. Who else?"

"Well, there are two other scum in here too."

"Oh, shut the fuck up will you? You're as dumb as a box of rocks. You hold her I'll put the mask on her."

The man named Harry drug Ashley out of her sleeping ball, and lifted her up in one oversized hand. She didn't bother to struggle as he restrained her, and the other man slid a leather bound mask with breathing holes over her mouth and nose and buckled it behind her head. A small padlock was attached to keep her from taking it off.


"She looks like Hannibal Lecter," Harry observed.

"Who?" His friend asked.

"An old movie. A cannibal."

"Aw, well not today. Come on you got work to do."

The duo shoved Ashley out the door and down the hall and into the galley. The other slaves glanced at her, but knew better than to say anything in front of their masters

"Dominus will be along shortly to tell you what he wants for dinner," Harry taunted. "You better get started," he finished with a malicious smile. "The Master won't be happy if he has to wait for his dinner."

Ashley didn't say anything, and simply went to work peeling potatoes, and getting water boiling. She set various meats out to warm for cooking. If Dominus didn't eat it, one of his goons would.

[Dominus]

"And that Jack is what we deal with here." Kirby said and watched the door. "Don't get too cocky..." she closed her eyes and sighed. "So tell me more about my son and his wife and child..."

Later --

Dominus went into the cell where Jack and Kirby were sleeping and used his electro shock abilities to wake him up. "Get up boy." he said sternly. "Now! Or are you as weak as your counterpart?"

"Bloody 'el..." he muttered and got to his feet. "I'm up I'm up..."

"Come with me." Dominus commanded and gave Kirby a look. "And don't get any bright ideas Newstead..."

"Pfft... it's been years... any bright ideas are long past." she replied and turned over.

"Good. Jackson... time to get to work." Dominus said as he held his shoulder and lead him out of the cell and gestured to the doors that at one point used to be luxury crew quarters, which were now shabby prisoner cells, divided in two and barely habitable. "All of these can be opened into space. Remember that Jackson, I can kill everyone here if you so much as attempt escape." he gave him a dark expression. "And I will start with your sister in law. Although she is quite skilled with her tongue..."

Jack glared at him and shook his head. "Threats of violence against women. Dominus, do you really think you are on the right side of history here? That I'll will simply buckle to your whims because you brutalize a woman allegedly because of my actions, but you really want to do it anyway because you're a despot."

"Impressive... my Jackson never could stand up to me like that." Dominus chuckled and smiled slightly. "I hope you're as brilliant as he was, because you're going to ensure my cloning operation is fully ready and this station is ready for battle." he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ketracel white tube that had a Jem'Hadar's finger inside of it. "The Dominion is a threat to me and my continued dominance of this sector, so... we're going to wipe them out. Ever last one of them. We will hit them where and when they least expect it. Already we are sewing the seeds of distraction."

"And you need clones... why?" Jack raised an eyebrow. "You kill more than you'd breed."

"They can be youth, as long as I have numbers of loyal, durable warriors." Dominus said and lead Jackson to a workroom. "This is where you will perfect our cloning facilities and you will beef up our defenses."

"And if I refuse... you'll kill the prisoners, talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face." Jack chuckled.

"No, if you refuse, then I have the Brethren finish the job on Xenex and then hit Earth and Terra Alpha. I'll have the Brethren claim the Dominion sent them and the entire galaxy will be against each other. Hell, I may STILL take them out anyway but for now... if you play nice, I'll play nice. If you play games with me... everyone you love, will die. And I will put you through torments that make what I did to Solara look like a spanking." he tossed him a tool bag. "Get to work. Oh and Jackson... if I don't like what I see... I am pretty sure one of those sluts you were sharing a room with told you about what I can do and where I can go. Just think about that. Also... Walker is starting to get to the end of her usefulness. Give me a reason why she should continue to use resources and draw breath and I might consider not giving her to you to turn into raw materials to power the clone lab."

[Ashley Walker]

The clatter of silverware drew their attention. A fork had slid off the plate Ashley was carrying. She caught it deftly by the handle in mid-air, and returned it to its place.

She gave him a stately curtsey. It came as smoothly and natural as breathing, as did all the courtly actions she performed before Dominus. "Sorry, milord," she said gravely. "I did not mean to eavesdrop. Where would you like your supper?"

She held herself upright, and didn't cower like many would in her position. She almost came off as arrogant. Like the others we below her.

[Dominus]

"Usual place." Dominus said, barely acknowledging her presence. "So Jackson... what shall we do with this thing?" he gave her a slight cock of his head.

"I could use a lab assistant, she's a geneticist." Jack replied.

"As if it's been useful in that capacity." Dominus chuckled and clipped a leash to her and handed it to Jack. "It's your's to use. Keep it busy or it's gone. Barely even gives good head."

"Perhaps I see more use for her besides a place to stick my dick." Jack said bluntly.

"Ah a do-gooder." Dominus chuckled and crossed his arms. "Speaking of do-gooder. Your nephew and your daughter? They seem to have made a strong child. Although your nephew... he is certainly a stronger specimen compared to what my version of your brother produced. Of course, he didn't mate with his Kirby." he shrugged his shoulders. "Mate with the one in your cell. See what she can produce."

"I will not have sex with my brother's wife." Jack said firmly.

"Then extract her eggs. Whatever." Dominus gestured. "Who said anything about sex? I said 'mate' you can do that with a test tube and a petri dish. I wouldn't even suggest that thing on the end of your leash. Far too old and useless."

"Whatever you say." Jack rolled his eyes and was met with a slap to the face.

"Never roll your eyes to me boy or you will lose them!" Dominus shouted and pointed in his face. "Now... I will take my dinner. Get to work. Your pet assistant can feed you."

[Ashley Walker]

Ashley left for the kitchens and returned with another plate. It was a collection of leftovers, but it was good, and full of nutrition even if it was a collection of this and that.

She handed the plate to Jackson. "Thank you," she said through the infernal mask. "I don't think I will be here much longer. They've gotten more hostile lately. One of these days they're going to decide they want some target practice, or whatever. I have to ask you something. I know, it's a lot to ask considering our situation. I will tell you my secret and I hope you will choose to keep it to yourself. At least for now. My name isn't Ashley Walker. Well, it is Ashley, but I don't have a last name. I took it from my father, Lord Walker, Baron of Gestingthorpe when I joined Starfleet. My name is Her Royal Highness Princess Ashley, Duchess of Edinburgh. I am the youngest daughter of the Queen. You said she was doing well right? Would you tell her about me me?"

[Jack Ryder]

"Of course... although you can tell her yourself." Jack whispered. "I'm a telepath... I knew the truth, I just kept it to myself. You've been MIA for three decades luv."

[Ashley Walker]

She nodded, "I bloody know that as well as anyone. I just figured by now they would have pronounced me dead." She shrugged, "Keep this to yourself please. My time here is limited, let's not give them an excuse to be more cruel."

[Jack Ryder]

"Of course... but you're going home." Jack said as he put his hand on her shoulder. "I don't leave people behind. Not if I can help it. Royal status notwithstanding."

[Ashley Walker]

"Just do me a favor then; sacrifice me if it comes down to it. Now, I think you need to get someone pregnant, and you seem reluctant to choose your friend. I will take on the job."