The Dralathi
Spotty walked into the dimly lit interrogation room where Chief Rask was chained to the wall, flanked by two Spartans. Her presence was commanding, and the room seemed to shrink in response to her authority.
"Unchain him and leave us alone," she ordered. "I will conduct the interrogation."
The Spartans hesitated for a moment, glancing at each other, but then complied. They unshackled Rask and exited the room, leaving the towering Dralathi warrior alone with the Empress.
Spotty turned her back to him, seemingly unfazed by his imposing stature and the sharp fangs and claws that marked him as a fearsome opponent. "Now, Rask, you will tell me what I want to know," she said calmly. "I'd advise against trying to fight me."
Seeing an opportunity, Rask lunged at her with a snarl. But Spotty was far too fast. In the blink of an eye, she had moved behind him. "You can't beat me, Rask," she said, her voice steady and unperturbed. "Just answer my questions, and I will not harm you."
"Never," Rask growled, his defiance palpable. He spun around, swinging his powerful arm at her. Spotty effortlessly dodged, and Rask's fist collided with the wall instead, leaving a dent.
She looked at him, her eyes cold. "And even if you hit me, you wouldn't harm me."
Spotty stood still as Rask roared and struck at her again with all his might. This time, she didn't move. The full force of his blow landed on her, but she remained unmoved, the impact causing no visible damage.
"Are you going to cooperate, or do you need some more convincing?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion. With a swift movement, she grabbed Rask by the throat and lifted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.
Rask struggled in her grip, but it was futile. Her strength was far beyond anything he had encountered. He clawed at her hand, but her grip remained unyielding.
"You will tell me about your people and your intentions," Spotty said, her grip tightening just enough to make him realize the severity of his situation. "Or I will make you regret your defiance."
Rask's eyes bulged with a mix of rage and fear. He realized he was utterly at her mercy. He had seen brutality and strength before, but nothing like this. Slowly, his struggles weakened, and he nodded, gasping for breath.
Spotty loosened her grip just enough for him to speak. "We... we are the Dralathi," he rasped. "We conquer... we enslave... it is our way."
"Who leads you? And where is Ila?" Spotty demanded, her eyes boring into his.
Rask hesitated, and Spotty's grip tightened again. "Rokmar leads us. Ila... she is with him. She... she guides him, gives him knowledge."
Spotty nodded, satisfied for the moment. She released him, letting him fall to the floor in a heap. "Good. You will tell me everything about your operations, your strategies, and your strengths. If you prove useful, you might just live to see another day."
Rask coughed, rubbing his throat. He looked up at her, defeated but still defiant in spirit. "You... you are strong. But the Dralathi will not fall easily."
"We shall see," Spotty replied. "But for now, you will talk. And if you lie, I will know."
From his post just outside the interrogation room, Spartan Sergeant Adrian Knox stood at attention, his enhanced senses alert to every sound and movement within. The metallic hum of the ship’s systems was a constant backdrop, but his focus was entirely on the muffled voices and occasional thuds coming from the room where the Empress was alone with the Dralathi prisoner, Chief Rask.
Adrian and his fellow Spartan, Corporal Diaz, had been ordered to unchain Rask and leave the room. They obeyed without question, although it went against every instinct to leave their Empress alone with such a dangerous being. Now, they stood guard, ready to respond to any call for assistance, though deep down, Adrian doubted the Empress would need any help.
The interrogation began quietly, Spotty’s voice firm but composed, almost casual. Adrian couldn't make out every word, but he recognized the tone. She was giving Rask a chance to cooperate.
Suddenly, there was a loud thud. Adrian's muscles tensed, and his hand instinctively moved toward his weapon. He exchanged a glance with Diaz, both ready to burst in if necessary. But there was no call for help, no sign that the Empress was in trouble.
More sounds followed: the scrape of claws against metal, the impact of fists on walls. Adrian imagined Rask, furious and desperate, lashing out. But there were no sounds of struggle from the Empress, only the steady, unflinching tone of her voice.
"Are you going to cooperate, or do you need some more convincing?" she asked, her voice as clear as if she were standing right next to him.
Another thud, this one heavier, and then a strangled gasp. Adrian’s enhanced hearing picked up the faint sounds of Rask struggling to breathe. The Empress had him in her grasp. He knew she was demonstrating her superior strength, making it clear that Rask’s defiance was futile.
The silence stretched, punctuated only by the gasps and coughs of the Dralathi. Then, Rask began to speak, his voice hoarse and broken. Adrian couldn't make out the words, but the tone was unmistakable: submission.
Finally, the Empress called for them. Adrian and Diaz entered the room swiftly, their eyes scanning the scene. Rask was on the floor, rubbing his throat and looking up at the Empress with a mix of fear and respect. Spotty stood over him, her expression calm and composed, a stark contrast to the disheveled state of the Dralathi warrior.
"Take him back to his cell," she ordered, her voice as steady as ever.
Adrian and Diaz moved to comply, lifting Rask to his feet. As they escorted him out, Adrian couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration for the Empress. She had faced down a creature that would terrify most beings in the galaxy and had emerged completely unscathed, her authority and power unquestionable.
Once Rask was secured, Adrian glanced back at the interrogation room, where the Empress was already moving on to her next task. He knew then, more than ever, that his loyalty to her was well-placed. Spotty was not just a leader; she was a force of nature, and under her command, the Empire would face any threat with unwavering strength.
As Rask was dragged back to his cell, he replayed the events of the interrogation over and over in his mind. The Empress's calm demeanor, her swift movements, and her unyielding strength had left an indelible mark on him. He had underestimated her, thinking her to be just another opponent he could overpower with brute force. But she was different—far more formidable and composed than anyone he had ever faced. The memory of her lifting him effortlessly by the throat made his pride sting, and the realization that he had been utterly outmatched gnawed at him. He knew now that the Empire was not to be trifled with, and a sense of foreboding settled in his chest about the fate of his people.
Meanwhile, Spotty returned to the bridge and activated her communicator. "Fabricator General Shoddy, I have a ship here I want your best people to analyze," she commanded. "Take the fastest tug boats we have and bring it to your lab on Mars."
Shoddy's voice crackled through the communicator. "Understood, Empress. We will dispatch the tug boats immediately and ensure the vessel is transported securely and swiftly."
Satisfied with Shoddy's response, Spotty opened another channel, this time to Lord Asmodeus. "Hello, dear," she greeted, a hint of warmth in her voice. "I have some prisoners for you. I performed the preliminary interrogation, but I'm sure they have more to say. I'll bring them with me once I return."
Asmodeus's deep, resonant voice responded. "Thank you, Empress. I'll make sure we extract all the information they have. Safe travels back."
Spotty closed the communicator and took a moment to reflect. The Dralathi were a new and potentially dangerous threat, but with the intelligence they had gathered and the advanced technology at their disposal, she felt confident they could handle whatever came next. Her thoughts briefly drifted to the refugees they had rescued. Ensuring their safety and integrating them into the Empire would be a priority. She knew that every new ally strengthened the Empire, and every bit of information gathered about their enemies brought them closer to securing their dominion over the multiverse.