Prologue: A Taste of What's to Come

He observed his handiwork as he stood before the viewing points on the bridge. Even through the thick glass he could still feel the heat of the world around him. The world he had just burnt.

"My Lord, no traces of life remain anywhere on the planet."

It was one of his subordinates who had spoken from somewhere behind him. He did not know which one. He did not care, especially not these days. He had many, many of them, and not one of them could live up to what he had lost. What she had taken from him. And now he had seen that justice was done. Partly, anyway.

"Good," he said to the subordinate, not turning to even look at the male, his voice nothing more than a low growl that he knew would strike fear into the lesser being. "Prepare the Gateway. We depart for the next target as soon as the device is charged and ready."

"Yes, my Lord." The subordinate bowed. He didn't have to see it; they always did. The combination of fear and reverence would do that to anyone. It did not matter if the subordinates had doubts, if they did not share his hatred. He was not about to give up on his mission. He would not until vengeance was truly his and justice was fully served.

And that would not happen until every last version of Earth was destroyed.

And every last version of her along with it.

He was wallowing in that thought, loving it, dreaming of when he could make it became reality, when he heard the voice, the bodiless voice that was almost begging to him. The distant, human voice.

"Hello? Hello, can you hear me? We need your help, and in a way I can see that you're just going to love."