Issue Nine ~ To Come Under Dominion
Chapter One
The Scarlet Dove soared through the crisp night air, returning from a third fruitless night of staking out Fort Anderson, waiting on Dominion's attack. She admonished herself for not thinking to question the villain Ozone as to the specific timeline but then, she hadn't exactly been in the clearest frame of mind during that interrogation.
Over the past week since her encounter with mutant, Starling had poured herself completely into heroine mode. It seemed the best way to cope with everything else that had been going on.
The coverage of the pictures of her naked in Pierce's penthouse had continued to expand. A few news outlets had actually contacted her for a statement, which she declined. A few online porn sites had sent her offers to do full photo shoots, also declined obviously.
The River Run legal team had informed her there was only so much they could do in regards to the pictures, but they'd get retractions for some of the more libelous articles.
Ed had given her a new assignment. The mayor's wife was organizing a huge bridal expo and Starling was going to be the one covering it. Additionally, Ed wanted an entire series of bridal and wedding related articles leading up to it. The assignment itself was not so bad, but what it signified was disheartening. Ed thought that the series would help to rehab her public image; how could she be a gold-digging whore, if she was just another girl obsessed with getting married?
Not exactly the serious journalism she had always dreamt of. It almost made her feel more pathetic, after all it certainly was not as if Pierce were going to marry her. She knew this because she also hadn't talked to Pierce since smashing her phone during their conversation about those pictures; a conversation in which he made it clear he didn't really care about her plight.
However, all of that vanished once she donned her feathered mask and dove emblem bustier! Flying over the city, hunting super villains, beating up the odd mugger here and there, all of that felt important! It reminded her that Starling Chase's life and problems, were only so much window dressing to conceal the secret mission of the Scarlet Dove.
Suddenly, searing pain ripped through her body, yanking the heroine out of her contemplations and leaving her screaming in agony! Losing concentration she careened wildly, falling out of the sky to crash land on a nearby roof top.
The pain subsided quickly, and the young heroine scrambled to her feet. Glancing down, she saw that there was a scorched hole in the side of her spandex bustier, exposing the pale skin of her upper ribs, as well as a generous amount of under-boob. She winced, inspecting the area, it was tender to touch but no severe wound.
She scanned the surrounding area, noticing a dark figure standing on a roof top a few buildings away. Making no attempt to conceal itself, she assumed this to be her attacker!
The superheroine leapt into the sky, taking flight once more. She climbed quickly, gaining enough altitude to avoid any more incoming attacks, before heading towards that dark figure. She circled once, barely able to believe her eyes...it was DOMINION!
He was unmistakable, wearing a huge black robe with the hood pulled back to reveal his masked head. His cowl was all black, leaving his eyes, mouth and chin visible. The eyes were rimmed in white, with horned designs on the upper corners. Although he kept it concealed under his cloak, she knew he was wearing a suit of sleek, high tech battle armor. The only other distinctive feature she could make out were his white gloves and boots.
Once she realized this, the Scarlet Dove swooped down on him brazenly. As she was diving his arm made a swinging motion, and in the next instant a ball of energy was hurtling towards her. It came like lightening but the heroine was still able to avoid it, without veering too far off her trajectory. She barreled into Dominion, whipping around at the last second and hitting him in the chest with both feet. Her high heeled boots thumped off the rigid breastplate of his battle armor decidedly unsatisfactorily.
The villain growled as she struck. The force sent him sliding backward across the roof, but he kept his footing. She could hear the whir of machinery, presumably his battle armor absorbing the impact of her blow.
The young heroine flipped backwards, landing nimbly before the villain. Whipping her long crimson locks out of her face, she squared up to the villain with her hands planted on her curvy hips.
"Dominion!" Starling spat. "At last we meet!"
Dominion straightened and took a step forward, his hazel eyes devouring the sight of her. From her golden high heeled boots, his gaze crawled up her long, bare legs to the white bikini bottoms clinging to her shapely hips. He scanned over the gold belt sitting atop those, and glanced pointedly at the matching gold bracelets she wore. No doubt he knew the weapons concealed within. His roving gaze lingered on the skintight white bustier wrapped around her buxom torso, before lifting to the feathered mask obscuring her identity but unable to hide her beautiful features. When at last his gaze locked onto her own emerald eyes, she could not repress an involuntary shiver. There was such strength, confidence, and an undeniable malice in those hazel eyes his gaze alone was intimidating.
"And you have assuredly not disappointed!" the villain replied. "Nice moves, hero girl...although I seem to have left more of a mark!"
He pointed to the hole in her bustier, grinning. The Scarlet Dove scowled, covering the exposed curve of her lower breast with one hand.
"A cheap shot!" she accused. "You couldn't hit me when I was ready."
"Or did I miss on purpose that second time?" Dominion suggested. "I am here to talk not to fight, hero girl."
"That's 'Scarlet Dove' to you," she spat. "Or perhaps, Ms. Dove, if you're more the formal type."
Dominion chuckled, taking a few steps towards her. The young heroine dropped back into defensive crouch, prompting the villain to pull up short.
"As I say, I did not come here to fight," he said, holding up his hands. "Truly Tom and my men, whom you've been so fond of pummeling lately, have not exaggerated your beauty...you are much too gorgeous to fight with!"
"You'll find I'm more than a pretty face!" Starling groaned. "The only way you're getting out of here without a fight is if you're ready to surrender!"
"On the contrary," Dominion replied. "Actually, I've come to offer you the chance to submit to me!"
"Not likely!" the heroine balked.
"I know that my henchman, Ozone told you of my plans," Dominion explained.
Oh no! I hope that's all he told you,
Starling thought, swallowing a sudden lump in her throat.
Ozone knows my secret identity!
"I see great potential in you," he continued. "Join me!"
"What?" Starling gasped. "Not on your life!"
"I thought as much," Dominion sighed. "Then tell me, what are you doing here in my city, hero girl?"
"Don't call me that," she snapped. "This is my city now, you can consider this your eviction notice!"
