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Titel: To reign among the pale
Chapter 5 - Give me an army
Update - Chapter 6 - To rise from the ashes
Fandom: Chronicles of Riddick
Nc 17
Warnings: violence, slash
Disclaimer: This is a work of non profit fiction, the characters of Riddick and Vaako along with the concept of the Necormongers and TCOR Universe are right to their respective owners. I don't get any money for this.
Give me an army....
The torches had been lit when Riddick and Vaako were led into the grand ritual hall, which was a breathtaking sight. It easily encompassed a full level of the city’s caverns. High columns holding up an ornamented stone ceiling and stone benches trailing along both sides of the hall while the middle was divided by a deep abyss spanned by a narrow stone bridge.
The high priestess stood at the high end of the hall, expecting them to be brought to her. By the glances the high priestess shot at them, Riddick guessed that she wasn’t completely ignorant of what had transpired in that cell. Her angered looks amused Riddick and he had to resist the temptation to place a hand at Vaako’s shoulder, to make her twice as angry. Instead, he turned and gave a short look
to the Necromonger. “You ready?”
Vaako’s green eyes were steady, calm and composed. Whatever he thought of the plan that Riddick had whispered to him during the night, he hid well. “Whenever you are, my Lord.”
The high priestess cut their dialog short. “You proved worthy of the great sacrifice,” she announced loudly for the assembled crowd of worshippers. “And these,” she raised both of her hands, holding a jhambaia (I think you should describe the weapon a bit) in each one. “are your weapons. When you enter the bridge, you are in the hands of the ancient ones. May they judge you.”
Riddick and Vaako ascended the bridge from different sides and both held their weapons ready, like they intended to fight for real. Even in this dreadful situation Riddick could appreciate the catlike graces of Vaako. The Necromonger moved on the small bridge like a panther on a tree branch, dangerous, deadly and damned beautiful. Riddick fell into an exaggerated attack position, his eyes holding the Vaako’s gaze of Vaako. “Let’s do it.” They both moved at the same time, a precisely timed mock-clash of them, like a first, fierce attack. The shouting on both sides of the great hall was telling them the audience was buying it, and quite happy with their eagerness. Riddick felt Vaako shifting his balance, following the same way, and together they jumped off the bridge and plunged into the deep.
***
Icy water caught Vaako’s falling body, the feeling so intense that it nearly made him flinch. It was very dark down here, he barely perceived Riddick, swimming rapidly to the right. Down in the dark waters they were fully dependent on his keen eyes. By the deliberate movements of him, Vaako guessed that Riddick had found the channel at once. It had to be directly before them. Exerting all his strength into his swimming, Vaako followed Riddick into the rocky channel that led out of the abyss. The walls were very narrow, pressing so close, often hindering his fast movements. He had to marshal all his willpower to conquer the panic blossoming in his soul. Nevertheless, he swam even faster to escape this damned dark channel. A painful burning erupted from his chest and slowly extended towards his strained lungs. Vaako conquered the panic by concentrating on swimming as fast as he could, the icy water cooled down his muscles slowing him down even more. The rocky walls of the channel seemed to be drawing closer and closer by any moment.
Like a shadow out of dark water he saw Riddick turn left and followed without hesitation. The walls were even narrower there. He barely managed to slip through this place. He never knew how Riddick managed to do this so effortlessly. The burning in his lungs turned into a hard, painful hammering staccato. Somewhere between the shadows of the black waters a second turn appeared and they reached a shaft rising rapidly. The wish to breathe became almost unbearable as he approached the faint light of the surface with what was left of his strength. A long knife seemed to slice through his lungs as he slipped beneath the last rock barrier and saw the light above drawing close. Barely suppressing a pained scream, Vaako broke through the surface of the water. His breath was rattling and he had to force himself to breathe slowly.
A strong hand helped him out of the water. “You all right?” Riddick’s eyes shone like little moons in the darkness. He hardly seemed to breathe any faster.
Vaako nodded, unable to speak right now. He smelled the air full of ash and molten ore. They were on the surface again. Now they had to make a run for it, before the troops of the priestess realised what really had happened.
They reached the ravine at dawn. Not that it made that much of a difference, yet Vaako found himself again thinking in the way time was measured here on Minerva Twelve. Vaako could clearly say that Ravyn had followed his orders and turned the ravine into a bridgehead for the army. Yet things looked like the second in command of the misfits was still in charge. Vaako felt relieved as they approached the outer barrier of the troops’ camp openly. They had eventually made it, they had walked the ashes, they had risen with the flame and fallen with the wave, and they had survived.
The distinctive sound of a dozen gravity guns charging ripped him from his musings. The troop – Vaako’s bunch of glorious misfits – had surrounded them, weapons ready to fire. “Look whom we got here,” Ravyn grinned broadly. “Come over here, my Captain, it’s high time you returned.”
Vaako froze in his place. Ravyn had refused to call him by rank from their very first day. It had taken Vaako a dozen victories over the tall man in blade fighting to make him just obey his orders. “What’s the matter, Ravyn?”, he inquired in sharp tones. “The Lord Marshal….”
“…is dead. The Purifier, or former first Purifier, has proclaimed himself the new Lord Marshal. From where I stand, it’s just one shot and the Lord Marshal is truly dead and a big promotion on the way.” He lifted his gravity gun in Riddick’s direction.
With one flowing move, Vaako stood between Riddick and Ravyn. “And from where I stand, the Purifier just proved himself an Usurper,” he replied. “It’s no knife fight, this time, is it, Ravyn? One more shot, and you are Captain yourself. With all chances to lick the Purifier’s boots. You’ll love this, I guess.”
“No, last time he pretended to lick someone’s boots, he ripped his feet off.” Riddick shoved Vaako gently aside and stepped towards Ravyn. “Never expected a murderous psycho like you to become religious, Rave,” he growled. “But then, you make the perfect Necro, murderous nut that you are.”
Ravyn’s composure split into a huge grin. “I guess so,” he said putting down his gun. “Strange to see you again, Richard. To see you have risen in the world.” Following his example, the rest of the troop put aside their weapons as well.
Riddick’s thunderous laugh let Vaako stand guffawed, as Ravyn and Riddick exchanged a comradely handshake. “Good to see you did not lose your edge. How did you get out?” Riddick inquired while they walked into the very heart of the camp.
“Broke fence just a month after you. With all the mercs on your trail it was a piece of cake.” Ravyn shrugged and pointed upward. “Breaking this fool up there out of your seat won’t be as easy.”
Vaako could hardly believe what he heard. “Ravyn?”, he asked before all the men they needed in order to do some serious planning arrived in the camp’s very centre.
“Did I ever mention that our most worthy Lord Marshal and I spent some time together in the Slam?” Ravyn chuckled. “No; I guess I never did.”
Riddick cut him short. “Time for old stories later. Is this assassin of a brother of yours still around?”
“Yep, we escaped together. He’s chief scout of this nice bunch.” Ravyn whirled around. “Chris, get those lazy apes over here, or I’ll have them skinned and their hides sold to the Lord Marshal’s glove maker.”
“Chris?” Riddick asked.
“He’s the in charge of the snipers,” Vaako hurried to explain. It had been a while that he had to lead a troop right under a Lord Marshal’s eye.
“I know this,” Riddick growled. “Or assume as much. Chris, how did you ever get out of Crematoria?” He asked the haggard man who just had called out half a dozen of names.
“Oh, I got shuffled about two or three times and eventually slipped out quietly. Faked death, then fell in with this bunch.” He replied. “Nothing as spectacular as you did.”
“You know this man?” Vaako found himself flabbergasted. He had heard the crude jokes of his troops about the Lord Marshal for six months, yet never guessed that they might actually know him.
“He knows even more of us.” Demolitions expert Adrien and his twin Bane walked into the meeting. The albino twin brothers, as always, moved in perfect unison. The man walking between them was the complete opposite of them: bronze skin and black hair made him look like the shadow of the twins. Vaako knew him to be the twins’ lover and a rather troublesome character on top of it.
Riddick grinned. “I feel like I’m taking a trip down memory lane. You got out too?”
“Would you believe they let us out early, on account of our good looks?”, the twins grinned.
“Sure. And I run the pleasure house on Iron Gates. I see you’re still a happily married triangle. Good, saves me the time to find another code-splicer.”
The dark haired man acknowledged the words with a nod. “Nice to meet you again, Richard. We called the doctor to look after your wounds, and that of the captain.”
“No doctor needed here,” Riddick decided.
“Doc Raj will be disappointed.” The twins now seemed to suppress a chuckle.
“Doc Raj?” Riddick know fully turned to Vaako. “Tell me, Vaako, did the army of the Necromongers by any chance invade a planet called ‘Deimos Anvil’ during the last couple of years?”
“Not that I know of. Why?” Vaako tried to find his composure again. It was rather obvious that his nice bunch of misfits shared some kind of history with the Lord Marshal.
“Because half of them are inmates I met there, in Butcher’s Bay,” Riddick explained, waving it off. “Let’s get to business. Rave, what’s the situation in details?”
Ravyn activated the liquid map in front of them. “We lost nearly all our landing points except this one and the one held by Commander Skar. The Purifier claims that you died along with Scales and the rest of his troop when you entered this cavern city. Most people believe him and accepted his claim to become the new Lord Marshal. The moment he hears that you are alive, he’ll probably have our camp here burned to cinders. I think most of the army would follow you, did they know that you are still alive.”
Vaako had listened intently. He had no trouble to read between the lines of Ravyn’s report. The army would accept the Purifier only on the basis that Riddick was dead, and would turn on him as soon they knew that Riddick was still around. But down here Riddick was vulnerable to a fast attack, launched by the Purifier. Vaako was rather sure that his former wife had inspired the Purifier in his quest for power. And if she was the one who did the thinking behind the scenes…
“Ravyn could report that his scouts retrieved your body from Morningdale. I am sure the Purifier would wish to see this proof himself and call the troop up to Necropolis,” he outlined the idea forming in his mind.
“And that would bring us close enough to strike at this son of a bitch and the ‘loyal’ subjects,” Riddick agreed. “But why don’t you report having recovered my carcass, Vaako?”
Vaako shook his head. “It would not work that well, my Lord. The Purifier would never trust me, he’d always fear I might try to retain my old rank and be extra cautious. If Ravyn reports having recovered your corpse he won’t suspect as much.”
***
Riddick watched the troop’s preparation for their next move. The moment Rave made his report, everything had to be ready for quick action. The Furyan was still amused that so many well known faces were among Vaako’s troop. Many of them had been among the more intelligent and capable Inmates Riddick had met during his time in the Slam. It was the first time he was among a Necromonger troop and felt completely at home. The tone of their speech was harsh, and only Vaako would ever use the term ‘my Lord’, but they spoke a language Riddick understood perfectly well. Short, direct, and always to the point. It spoke highly of Vaako’s abilities that he had been able to transform them into such an efficient troop. Right now, Vaako was completely focused on the preparations and Riddick had retreated into silently watching him. “Things are going rather well,” Rave had come towards him. “We’ll bring you into the great hall of Necropolis in a sarcophagus, as it is proper.”
“So the fun begins the moment they open it,” Riddick appreciated the idea very much. “You think the troop will be in position and able to handle it?”
Rave shrugged. “Ask Vaako, it’s his plan,” he replied dryly. “I was rather mad when we got the former ‘First among Commanders’, bloody loyal Vaako for a Captain. But I will say this for him: he is a good man, better than I believed he could be. And most of his plans worked so far, even two or three which sounded really nuts.”
Riddick’s eyes narrowed. “Good for you, you respect him. He must have taken you down a dozen times.”
“So he did.” Rave’s voice grew thoughtful. “Tough half the times he fought me during this first terrible month, I believe he was looking for someone to kill him. Someone who would plunge a knife deep into his heart, to make the pain go away for ever.”
“Make your report to the Purifier,” Riddick ordered. “It’s time we got moving.”
***
Night had fallen, cold stars were glistening in the night sky, a thousand burning jewels on a deep velvet blanket. Riddick heard Vaako’s light steps approach. “The troop is ordered to launch back to Necropolis in four hours sharp, my Lord,” he reported.
Riddick exhaled softly, the air was chilly and tasted of death; it never did anything else down here. “The name is Riddick,” he said, his eyes scanning the shaded landscape around.
“My Lord?” Vaako’s voice betrayed he was puzzled.
“My name is Riddick, and you will call me that. This eternal ‘yes, my Lord, no, my Lord, three bags full, my Lord’ is getting on my nerves. Besides, right now the Lord Marshal up there is the Purifier.”
“He isn’t. He’s just a power-hungry man who tries to claim something that is too big for him.” Vaako’s voice had grown cold as he said this.
“Like you did once.” Riddick observed. He saw Vaako turn and avert his gaze. By now he had learned to read some of Vaako’s body language. Vaako was ashamed and hid something which he did not want to admit. “Right. Like I did.” He admitted in a bitter hush.
Softly burying his hand in Vaako’s long dark hair, Riddick forced him to look him into the eyes. Vaako trembled slightly, but did not resist; his eyes were filled with a storm of emotions. “Tell me,” Riddick whispered. “Tell me, why did you attack my predecessor, who thought highly of you, and yet you stand with me, a fallen Lord Marshal, who took it out on you?”
He felt Vaako flinch, but did not let go of him. The green eyes seemed to burn. “I could not let him kill you,” Vaako’s voice was barely a whisper. “And I won’t let them, either.”
Steps hastily drawing closer broke into the moment. Riddick let go of Vaako, and turned towards Adrien who was approaching. “The Purifier changed his opinion. He wants us up there at once.”
***
The transport ships launched from the surface of Minerva Twelve. Riddick settled back into the sarcophagus, grinning at the plan. The Necromonger society would have their first Lord Marshal rising from death today. He had the distinct feeling that they were not yet done with this wretched homeworld of Vaako’s, but first he had to get control of the Necromongers again. The thought of the ravaged world below made him think of Vaako again, who was right now hidden among the troop. In the uniform of the Necromonger armour, he’d attract no attention. Outside the sarcophagus, Riddick heard the voices of the soldiers, prepping their weapons, talking in hushed voices. Inwardly, he smiled. He’d found his army after all.
To rise from the ashes
Vaako studied the situation they were marching into through the visor of his heavy helmet. Wrapped in the anonymous shell of a necromonger armour he was not to be distinguished from all the other Necromongers around. Ravyn was right now marching at the very top of the troop, behind him Adrien, Bane, Baldrien and Chris were carrying the sarcophagus, with a heavily armed “Honour guard” at each side. Behind them Vaako marched with the rest of the glorious bunch of misfits, who were clearly enjoying the situation. Some practical insubordination was right up their alley.
The Basilica was humming with life, Vaako noted as they eventually reached the great Necropolis. The court was already assembled. The bright lighting startled Vaako. Had he really already gotten used to the dark lighting that Riddick preferred? Vaako nearly flinched when he saw the gathering crowd, saw those high doors and the circle behind. He would enter this hall again to fight for his life. Would he ever be able to enter the Necropolis again without checking if he had at least one knife ready? He forced his musing and his fears into the back of his mind and begun to study the court. First among commanders, Toal, stood at the right of the throne, where the Purifier was sitting. Vaako had expected nothing else, but the woman, resting beside the Purifier made him look down at once. His wife, his – former – wife, now rightfully wife of an usurping Lord Marshall was eagerly watching the procession as they came near. Her eyes were scanning the sarcophagus with an appreciation that seemed perverted to Vaako. He forced himself to ignore her, and studied the rest of the court. Many of the nobles seemed as eager as his former wife. Few of the military commanders were present here. He saw Keshal, who was usually leading the splinters of dead, small deadly fightercraft, ideally suited for breaking through planetary defences, and Pavár, another commander of ground troops, along with two or three others. A jet black armour among all the grey shells made him look again. A little aside from the other commanders stood Cmdr. Scar, he must have been recalled from the planetary surface for the ceremony. Vaako nodded inwardly. Scar would not accept a new Lord Marshall except the old one was dead. It had been hard enough to convince him of Riddick’s rightful claim. Vaako recalled. A knight of the Underverse had not been easy in accepting a mere breeder. Cautiously Vaako studied the face of his old mentor. Like always the stony features betrayed nothing what the man might think, the irongrey hair was thoroughly tied back, tough. Which told Vaako that Scar either expected trouble, or had returned freshly from the surface without time to change. Scar looked up, his grey eyes scanning him, and Vaako hastily averted his gaze. He did not know how his former mentor and friend might react to seeing him. Had it been only his own life, Vaako would have trusted Scar at once, but there was too much at stake right now.
The whole troop came to an abrupt halt before the throne. Ravyn did not kneel, he merely saluted. Vaako had known he would, amused he saw the anger rise in the Purifiers eyes. The man wanted to punish Ravyn for his insubordination, but he had other priorities, so he let it pass. “Bring the sarcophagus.” He ordered.
The sarcophagus was set down before the throne. On Ravyn’s short gesture, the troop formed a ceremonial semi-circle around it. Vaako found himself standing on the utter left end of the formation, very close to where the commanders were standing. He could study them, from below his helmet. Scar stood his arms braced in front of his chest, his whole appearance betrayed a hard contained composure. Whatever these events meant to him, he didn’t take them lightly. Keshal stood relaxed, observing the scene with an odd amusement, that irritated Vaako. He and Keshal had once been something like friends, and he hated to think his former friend might have been turned against Riddick. Toal was openly gloating at the still closed sarcophagus, while Pávar and Elzir studied the scene with some delight too. Involuntarily Vaako had to suppress the urge to check on his knifes again. He’d fight for more than his life this night, and against more than one beast, this much was sure.
The Purifier called forth three of the courtiers to open the sarcophagus, obviously trying to keep a balance of the ceremonial, that had already been grossly disrupted by the way Ravyn had organised his troop. The heavy lid was slowly raised. From the corner of his eye Vaako could see all the attendants of the scene, all court, drawing closer. Anger rose inside him. Did they really delight that much in the Lord Marshall’s death? Only seconds after, the lid of the coffin flew wide open crashing to the ground. Riddick had risen from his alleged tomb, standing tall among the Necormongers. His grin was directed at the Purifier. “Missed me?”
Jumping from her seat Vaako saw his former wife grabbing a light up pistol from one of the guardsmen and raising it. Involuntarily she gave Ravyn the sign to act. The broad shouldered fighter tossed two heavy grenades towards that point of the ceiling, where the main powergrid was located. Within moments the lights blanked out. Just before the darkness fell Vaako saw Riddick right about to be encircled by enemies.
All of sudden Vaako whirled around, one of his blades gliding from his hand, whirling through the dark air, a metal shriek heralded the death of an opponent. Vaako sped up, to retrieve his blade, carrying the attack right into the circle of their enemies, his eyes were still well adjusted to the darkness, thanks to their time in Morningdale city. Riddick stood tall, taking on as many as there came, not caring about numbers. Vaako knew that some Necromongers on seeing the Lord Marshall alive were sure to join with them again but right now the Lord Marshal had had an unlucky standing, being cornered between some noblemen and the Purifiers guard, easily the strongest among their enemies. But Vaako did not hesitate for a moment unleashing a whirlwind attack on them. Even as two other Necormongers tried to take him down same time, he did hardly slow down. Riddick leaped into an attack, that misdirected the deadly blow from Vaako before it could hit home. The Necromonger warrior, unaware of any new adversary took a serious wound from this blow, his metal gear scattering around the Basilicia. Vaako soon found himself not fighting one opponent but four of them. He broke free from his first adversary, spun around and saw himself confronted with a smaller warrior, who had some extrastrong armour, which was slightly a disadvantage for the him, because could not move as deftly as Vaako did. He dodged the first attack, diving below the scimitars, and delivering a thrust upwards, that nearly broke through the armour. But a harsh blow, dealt out with the full strength armoured body of the Necormonger, threw him backwards. He jolted, landing on his feet again. He set a hard snap kick against the warrior to his left, trained by Toal no doubt, his trainees hardly ever understood the art of weaponless fighting, and unleashed a whirlwind of attacks on the first one, who parried half of them, and suffered some damage from the rest. Caught in between these fighters Vaako had also received the first wounds, nothing really serious by now, but he knew he was not to last long if things went on this way. Again he spun delivering another snap catching one of his enemies off guard, he fell backwards, exposing one of the Nobles who still fought Riddick. Vaako sliced him deftly in two pieces and some junk, that littered the ground all around them. One enemy after the other fell from their swords, metal pieces clashing to the ground, dying men in between. Vaako’s blade bit deep into their last enemy, the Necormonger suddenly collapsed a grenade exploded in his falling hand, something hot slid along Vaako’s left arm.
Another explosion nearly threw Vaako off his feet, he managed barely to remain standing, his blade slashing through another Necromonger. Someone in here had gone to use heavy firepower and grenades. Bad idea inside a ship that was in space. Did Toal ever even mention this to his trainees? Riddick by now had armed himself with a heavy axe whirling it effortlessly he hit two others of their adversaries. For a moment they managed to break free. What remained of their small fighting force was regrouping in the center of the hall. Another wave of enemies hit them, forcing them to fight in closed quarters to cover each other. Deep ins heart Vaako began asking himself whether they could hold out for long. The lights would recover soon, and if fresh troops arrived. Then we’ll die. If I am to die here… I’ll have no regrets. Concentrating on the battle again he dumped a heavy mans corpse, using it as a shield against a heavy blast. Up till now the statues and pillars of the hall were protecting them from the heavier blast canons. At least the deadly rain of light came only from one direction, but it got stronger and would eventually burn them to cinders. Riddick’s whirled through the air, as he disposed of half a dozen enemies. The explosives fired by less courageous courtiers were far more dangerous for them, crumbling the scarce cover they had with any new hit, that shock ship around them. A flash caught his eye as Riddick’s axe split another Necromonger in two. Suddenly the lights flared again, bathing the hall in painful brightness. Through the main gate and the side entrances a flood of warriors pored down. Vaako’s heart sank more reinforcements. Another explosion shook the hall, but it had nowhere been near them. It took Vaako a moment to realise that the newly arrived troops were taking out their adversaries. Caught between two fronts the resisting followers of the Purifier did not last long. In the middle of the fight Vaako recognised the armour of their support troop. These were Scar’s men, a tough elite force obviously here to support their commander. Having a moments breath Vaako looked around, seeing Scar in the middle of bloody fighting field near the throne. The old warrior had held his own against the Purifiers cronies. He had support in Keshal, who had obviously had remained loyal to the Lord Marshall.
And then, suddenly it was over. Silence fell over the hall, there was no other noise then the harsh breathing of the warriors, the bristling of the abused lights and the swoshing sound of the icy air. Riddick, gory from the battle, marked by scorches and wounds, stood above the corpse of the Purifier, his eyes scanning his loyal troops. A frown went into Scar’s direction, Vaako was sure Riddick didn’t know what to make out of the old warrior. Beneath Scar’s feet smashed on the steps of the throne lay the corpse of Vaako’s successor as first among commanders, Ravyn, standing not far had done away with Commander Pavár, Bane had finished of Elzir, others had killed the minor followers of the Purifier. Looking closer Vaako realised that the bulky enemy he had used as a shield against one of the blasts had been Toal, lying no dead at his feet. Riddick saw the whole scene and grinned. “You keep what you kill, boys.” His eyes again scanned the crowd. “And I think I’m gonna like the new court.”
***
The corpses had been cleared out the Necropolis. Vaako had supervised the process, drawing up a list of casualties and dead enemies. He was tired on his feet, but he had wanted this done, and done by himself. Now, as the last name was processed through, he knew for sure: his former wife wasn’t among them. Somehow she had managed to escape. Again he scanned the list. There was no mistake. Her body had not been found in the main hall, nor somewhere in the side halls. She had gotten away. Tiredly Vaako ran a hand through his long hair. He’d have to report this to the Lord Marshall first in the morning. No sense trying it now. The Basilicia was fast asleep.
It was eerily silent as Vaako wandered the dimly lit corridors of the ship. The reduced lighting felt somehow more normal to him than the full, bright flare. Except for the guards on duty, mainly men from Scar’s or Keshal’s troop, the hallways were empty. Vaako noted half a dozen weak spots in the makeshift guard pattern. He’d have to see to it by tomorrow. You keep what you kill. Again the sentence had shifted the path of his life. Toal had been commander of the main Basilicia along with some of the core troops. Which made the Basiliscia Vaako’s duty from now on. He stopped peering down the empty hallways left and right. Strange. Only days ago he had dreaded this place and avoided the upper halls, now they where his duty again. He didn’t envy Scar for his task. Working with this new set of Commanders would prove difficult. They were capable, yes, they were creative, right but they were highly dangerous also. Even as they might be more loyal then to be expected to the Lord Marshal. Vaako slowly descended a long shaft, following empty corridors, his body running on automatic, while his mind was far away. There were dozens of things to organise, to plan and to prepare. There was still Minerva Twelve to deal with. Not to speak of a potential Lord Marshal’s journey to the Underverse.
Vaako halted his steps. He stood before his quarters. Those small quarters he had lived in during those last dark months. Strangely they felt more like home than many other rooms he had used over the years. Perhaps they had not been inherited from someone else, perhaps he had no reminiscences of Dame Vaako here, perhaps this small place had been solely his own. He could have gone to Toal’s quarters, but he had not whished to do so. Clearing out that place, was a task for later. Tonight he just to wanted the blood an grime off himself and to wait for all the changes to sink in. Slipping into the room, he only ignited one of the small lights and waited for the small wash basin to fill. Stripping the bloody clothing he began to wash. The cold water felt good after the long day. Most of his former troop had gotten busted up by their kills today. They would be already in their new quarters, which was why it was so eerily silent down here. It felt strange. Usually he had heard them arguing, laughing and rutting right through the walls. Now it was silent. Like the whole ship was dead, adrift in endless space. Watering down his long tail of hair he contemplated cutting it back again. Rubbing it dry again he shook his head. He liked what he saw in the mirroring wall. It was less tame, less refined, more a warrior, perhaps even a son of Kaltar’s ashes, but it was himself. He had stopped pretending. He’d even face whatever might come out of his feelings for a certain Furyan…
The towel slipped from Vaako’s fingers. Riddick, where was he? Probably in the Lord Marshal’s quarters, asleep. But… they had killed most of the Lord Marshal’s guard today. Who was up there standing guard? Protecting him? Especially when a vengeful Dame Vaako was still around? Scar wouldn’t assign anyone there, without getting approval before. Hastily Vaako dried himself off, getting into his clothes, clean pants, a clean sleeveless shirt, he didn’t feel like an armour right now. He was too tired, had gone without one too often. Slinging his weapons belt around himself, he slipped two additional stilettos into his boots and hastened off. It was still silent in the hallways, but Vaako didn’t waste a moment, taking the fastest way up to the central Necropolis. The Lord Marshal’s personal quarters were some levels higher up, in the highest regions of the ship. Leaving behind the elevator Vaako strode hastily towards the spacious part of the high deck, that was the Lord Marshal’s quarters. No guards anywhere. Gracious semi-dead ones! If an assassin came here, he’d just have to march in. Vaako checked the hallways, they were empty. He stopped to call Keshal. The tired commander was slightly surprised about the call. “Any more guards, Vaako? My men are already patrolling the main Hallways and central decks. So do Scar’s. And the Lord Marshal didn’t say a word about guards on High deck, albeit I see your point.”
Vaako sighed. The Lord Marshal had not said a word about it, which meant that Keshal wouldn’t deploy any men on High deck. Sure, they could raise Scar and make him decide the matter, but he was sure to have his hands full and be not gratefull for another disturbance. And even if he gave his consent, there were simply no decent troops on this ship left. It would take another day to get more from other ships and ship off those troops that would need supervision in the near future. “Alright, Keshal. Have some more men of yours take care of the entrances to High deck,” Vaako decided. “I’ll check the place up here and come down again.” If there wasn’t a danger here, this might work, for a night.
Keshal nodded. “Will do, Vaako. I’ll deploy the Red Hand to do the job. And Vaako… it’s good to have you back.”
Vaako suppressed a smile at the comment as he slid the communications device into his belt again. Keshal had never been a really close friend, but they worked well together. They both had been protégées of Scar.
Like a shadow Vaako glided through the corridors of the High deck. There was no one around. Thirty minutes later he was sure, that outside the Lord Marshal’s quarters anything was alright. Standing in front of the main entrance he contemplated his options, he could assign himself to watch this place for the rest of the night, but it would do no good, if the assassin was already in there. Vaako bit his lip. Usually Riddick could handle any quantity of enemies, but with Dame Vaako on the run the equation had shifted.
Taking a deep breath Vaako placed his hand on the code panel of the door and entered an override code he had found out in his own days of conspiring. The door silently slid open and Vaako slipped into the dark rooms behind. It was dark in here, darker than in even the rest of the ship. But then, Riddick always loved the darkness. It took some moments before Vaako’s eyes adjusted to the complete darkness in here. The he could make out the exterior of the furniture, some pale light, tickling in from the viewport did help. Gazing around Vaako realised that there was only one set of breathing in here, except for his own and this other breathing was deep and steady. Riddick was most likely asleep. Gliding silently as a cat Vaako slid to the left, where he heard them. He perceived a body curled up on the divan, snuggled between some of cushions. ”Exhaustion,” Vaako rationalised. ”He must have collapsed there, after he came up here.”
Riddick had any right to be tired, he had been trough that first fight on Morningdale, their flight through the chambers of dark and light, their subsequent escape from the city and into the battle here. Vaako himself felt more close to sleep than awakening. Yet, something about Riddick made him cautious. He had curled up in a fetal position on the divan, hugging one of the cushions to himself. In the cell, in that few hours, he had slept sitting, ready to jump. Vaako slid closer to the divan. Riddick didn’t seem to be injured or otherwise harmed, but didn’t react to Vaako’s presence. The Necromonger was quite aware that the he was well inside the Furyans awareness radius. But Riddick did not wake. Again worry woke in Vaako. What if Riddick had been injured far worse than anyone knew?
The Basilicia turned, a little more light fell into the room from the one of Minerva’s moons. It was Cassius, the light of the guard, Vaako realised. Light for those who stood guard in the dark nights. He sighed inwardly, would he ever be able to shed the son of Kaltar’s ashes and become a Necromonger fully? In the scarce light, Riddicks muscular frame was high lightened from the cushion pile. He had curled up, deep asleep and was completely unaware of Vaako’s presence. Never before had Vaako seen Riddick so vulnerable. ”How much exhaustion does it need, to make you give in?” Vaako silently asked. “You never allow yourself to be weak, it’s against your Furyan nature. Where do you turn to, when strength fails, when the pain gets to great to bear?” He was tempted to spread one of the blankets across the sleeping man. He gently moved his hand above Riddick’s wrist, without touching it, he felt the steady heartbeat and the deep heat radiating from the sleeping man. He was probably all right, only exhausted and sleeping naturally.
All of sudden Vaako felt a hand closing around his wrist in an iron grip, dragging it down. Riddick had grabbed his wrist without waking up. He just snuggled into another position, unaware whom he held in his grip. Vaako had no chance to yank his hand from that iron grip. ”I’ll have to stay right here, I guess. To stand guard a place as good as any.” he thought.
Unfortunately Riddick settled for sleeping somewhere more in the middle of the large divan. Vaako counterbalanced himself and kicked his boots off. There was no chance to stand, so he could sit down as well. Gracefully settling down on the side of the divan, he gently slung the arm, Riddick held anyway, arund the sleeping man. I have no idea what the morning bring, or what awaits beyond the shadows of Minerva Twelve. But I’ll be here, with you, to guard you. To see you save, to hold you when strength fails you.
Chapter 5 - Give me an army
Update - Chapter 6 - To rise from the ashes
Fandom: Chronicles of Riddick
Nc 17
Warnings: violence, slash
Disclaimer: This is a work of non profit fiction, the characters of Riddick and Vaako along with the concept of the Necormongers and TCOR Universe are right to their respective owners. I don't get any money for this.
Give me an army....
The torches had been lit when Riddick and Vaako were led into the grand ritual hall, which was a breathtaking sight. It easily encompassed a full level of the city’s caverns. High columns holding up an ornamented stone ceiling and stone benches trailing along both sides of the hall while the middle was divided by a deep abyss spanned by a narrow stone bridge.
The high priestess stood at the high end of the hall, expecting them to be brought to her. By the glances the high priestess shot at them, Riddick guessed that she wasn’t completely ignorant of what had transpired in that cell. Her angered looks amused Riddick and he had to resist the temptation to place a hand at Vaako’s shoulder, to make her twice as angry. Instead, he turned and gave a short look
to the Necromonger. “You ready?”
Vaako’s green eyes were steady, calm and composed. Whatever he thought of the plan that Riddick had whispered to him during the night, he hid well. “Whenever you are, my Lord.”
The high priestess cut their dialog short. “You proved worthy of the great sacrifice,” she announced loudly for the assembled crowd of worshippers. “And these,” she raised both of her hands, holding a jhambaia (I think you should describe the weapon a bit) in each one. “are your weapons. When you enter the bridge, you are in the hands of the ancient ones. May they judge you.”
Riddick and Vaako ascended the bridge from different sides and both held their weapons ready, like they intended to fight for real. Even in this dreadful situation Riddick could appreciate the catlike graces of Vaako. The Necromonger moved on the small bridge like a panther on a tree branch, dangerous, deadly and damned beautiful. Riddick fell into an exaggerated attack position, his eyes holding the Vaako’s gaze of Vaako. “Let’s do it.” They both moved at the same time, a precisely timed mock-clash of them, like a first, fierce attack. The shouting on both sides of the great hall was telling them the audience was buying it, and quite happy with their eagerness. Riddick felt Vaako shifting his balance, following the same way, and together they jumped off the bridge and plunged into the deep.
***
Icy water caught Vaako’s falling body, the feeling so intense that it nearly made him flinch. It was very dark down here, he barely perceived Riddick, swimming rapidly to the right. Down in the dark waters they were fully dependent on his keen eyes. By the deliberate movements of him, Vaako guessed that Riddick had found the channel at once. It had to be directly before them. Exerting all his strength into his swimming, Vaako followed Riddick into the rocky channel that led out of the abyss. The walls were very narrow, pressing so close, often hindering his fast movements. He had to marshal all his willpower to conquer the panic blossoming in his soul. Nevertheless, he swam even faster to escape this damned dark channel. A painful burning erupted from his chest and slowly extended towards his strained lungs. Vaako conquered the panic by concentrating on swimming as fast as he could, the icy water cooled down his muscles slowing him down even more. The rocky walls of the channel seemed to be drawing closer and closer by any moment.
Like a shadow out of dark water he saw Riddick turn left and followed without hesitation. The walls were even narrower there. He barely managed to slip through this place. He never knew how Riddick managed to do this so effortlessly. The burning in his lungs turned into a hard, painful hammering staccato. Somewhere between the shadows of the black waters a second turn appeared and they reached a shaft rising rapidly. The wish to breathe became almost unbearable as he approached the faint light of the surface with what was left of his strength. A long knife seemed to slice through his lungs as he slipped beneath the last rock barrier and saw the light above drawing close. Barely suppressing a pained scream, Vaako broke through the surface of the water. His breath was rattling and he had to force himself to breathe slowly.
A strong hand helped him out of the water. “You all right?” Riddick’s eyes shone like little moons in the darkness. He hardly seemed to breathe any faster.
Vaako nodded, unable to speak right now. He smelled the air full of ash and molten ore. They were on the surface again. Now they had to make a run for it, before the troops of the priestess realised what really had happened.
They reached the ravine at dawn. Not that it made that much of a difference, yet Vaako found himself again thinking in the way time was measured here on Minerva Twelve. Vaako could clearly say that Ravyn had followed his orders and turned the ravine into a bridgehead for the army. Yet things looked like the second in command of the misfits was still in charge. Vaako felt relieved as they approached the outer barrier of the troops’ camp openly. They had eventually made it, they had walked the ashes, they had risen with the flame and fallen with the wave, and they had survived.
The distinctive sound of a dozen gravity guns charging ripped him from his musings. The troop – Vaako’s bunch of glorious misfits – had surrounded them, weapons ready to fire. “Look whom we got here,” Ravyn grinned broadly. “Come over here, my Captain, it’s high time you returned.”
Vaako froze in his place. Ravyn had refused to call him by rank from their very first day. It had taken Vaako a dozen victories over the tall man in blade fighting to make him just obey his orders. “What’s the matter, Ravyn?”, he inquired in sharp tones. “The Lord Marshal….”
“…is dead. The Purifier, or former first Purifier, has proclaimed himself the new Lord Marshal. From where I stand, it’s just one shot and the Lord Marshal is truly dead and a big promotion on the way.” He lifted his gravity gun in Riddick’s direction.
With one flowing move, Vaako stood between Riddick and Ravyn. “And from where I stand, the Purifier just proved himself an Usurper,” he replied. “It’s no knife fight, this time, is it, Ravyn? One more shot, and you are Captain yourself. With all chances to lick the Purifier’s boots. You’ll love this, I guess.”
“No, last time he pretended to lick someone’s boots, he ripped his feet off.” Riddick shoved Vaako gently aside and stepped towards Ravyn. “Never expected a murderous psycho like you to become religious, Rave,” he growled. “But then, you make the perfect Necro, murderous nut that you are.”
Ravyn’s composure split into a huge grin. “I guess so,” he said putting down his gun. “Strange to see you again, Richard. To see you have risen in the world.” Following his example, the rest of the troop put aside their weapons as well.
Riddick’s thunderous laugh let Vaako stand guffawed, as Ravyn and Riddick exchanged a comradely handshake. “Good to see you did not lose your edge. How did you get out?” Riddick inquired while they walked into the very heart of the camp.
“Broke fence just a month after you. With all the mercs on your trail it was a piece of cake.” Ravyn shrugged and pointed upward. “Breaking this fool up there out of your seat won’t be as easy.”
Vaako could hardly believe what he heard. “Ravyn?”, he asked before all the men they needed in order to do some serious planning arrived in the camp’s very centre.
“Did I ever mention that our most worthy Lord Marshal and I spent some time together in the Slam?” Ravyn chuckled. “No; I guess I never did.”
Riddick cut him short. “Time for old stories later. Is this assassin of a brother of yours still around?”
“Yep, we escaped together. He’s chief scout of this nice bunch.” Ravyn whirled around. “Chris, get those lazy apes over here, or I’ll have them skinned and their hides sold to the Lord Marshal’s glove maker.”
“Chris?” Riddick asked.
“He’s the in charge of the snipers,” Vaako hurried to explain. It had been a while that he had to lead a troop right under a Lord Marshal’s eye.
“I know this,” Riddick growled. “Or assume as much. Chris, how did you ever get out of Crematoria?” He asked the haggard man who just had called out half a dozen of names.
“Oh, I got shuffled about two or three times and eventually slipped out quietly. Faked death, then fell in with this bunch.” He replied. “Nothing as spectacular as you did.”
“You know this man?” Vaako found himself flabbergasted. He had heard the crude jokes of his troops about the Lord Marshal for six months, yet never guessed that they might actually know him.
“He knows even more of us.” Demolitions expert Adrien and his twin Bane walked into the meeting. The albino twin brothers, as always, moved in perfect unison. The man walking between them was the complete opposite of them: bronze skin and black hair made him look like the shadow of the twins. Vaako knew him to be the twins’ lover and a rather troublesome character on top of it.
Riddick grinned. “I feel like I’m taking a trip down memory lane. You got out too?”
“Would you believe they let us out early, on account of our good looks?”, the twins grinned.
“Sure. And I run the pleasure house on Iron Gates. I see you’re still a happily married triangle. Good, saves me the time to find another code-splicer.”
The dark haired man acknowledged the words with a nod. “Nice to meet you again, Richard. We called the doctor to look after your wounds, and that of the captain.”
“No doctor needed here,” Riddick decided.
“Doc Raj will be disappointed.” The twins now seemed to suppress a chuckle.
“Doc Raj?” Riddick know fully turned to Vaako. “Tell me, Vaako, did the army of the Necromongers by any chance invade a planet called ‘Deimos Anvil’ during the last couple of years?”
“Not that I know of. Why?” Vaako tried to find his composure again. It was rather obvious that his nice bunch of misfits shared some kind of history with the Lord Marshal.
“Because half of them are inmates I met there, in Butcher’s Bay,” Riddick explained, waving it off. “Let’s get to business. Rave, what’s the situation in details?”
Ravyn activated the liquid map in front of them. “We lost nearly all our landing points except this one and the one held by Commander Skar. The Purifier claims that you died along with Scales and the rest of his troop when you entered this cavern city. Most people believe him and accepted his claim to become the new Lord Marshal. The moment he hears that you are alive, he’ll probably have our camp here burned to cinders. I think most of the army would follow you, did they know that you are still alive.”
Vaako had listened intently. He had no trouble to read between the lines of Ravyn’s report. The army would accept the Purifier only on the basis that Riddick was dead, and would turn on him as soon they knew that Riddick was still around. But down here Riddick was vulnerable to a fast attack, launched by the Purifier. Vaako was rather sure that his former wife had inspired the Purifier in his quest for power. And if she was the one who did the thinking behind the scenes…
“Ravyn could report that his scouts retrieved your body from Morningdale. I am sure the Purifier would wish to see this proof himself and call the troop up to Necropolis,” he outlined the idea forming in his mind.
“And that would bring us close enough to strike at this son of a bitch and the ‘loyal’ subjects,” Riddick agreed. “But why don’t you report having recovered my carcass, Vaako?”
Vaako shook his head. “It would not work that well, my Lord. The Purifier would never trust me, he’d always fear I might try to retain my old rank and be extra cautious. If Ravyn reports having recovered your corpse he won’t suspect as much.”
***
Riddick watched the troop’s preparation for their next move. The moment Rave made his report, everything had to be ready for quick action. The Furyan was still amused that so many well known faces were among Vaako’s troop. Many of them had been among the more intelligent and capable Inmates Riddick had met during his time in the Slam. It was the first time he was among a Necromonger troop and felt completely at home. The tone of their speech was harsh, and only Vaako would ever use the term ‘my Lord’, but they spoke a language Riddick understood perfectly well. Short, direct, and always to the point. It spoke highly of Vaako’s abilities that he had been able to transform them into such an efficient troop. Right now, Vaako was completely focused on the preparations and Riddick had retreated into silently watching him. “Things are going rather well,” Rave had come towards him. “We’ll bring you into the great hall of Necropolis in a sarcophagus, as it is proper.”
“So the fun begins the moment they open it,” Riddick appreciated the idea very much. “You think the troop will be in position and able to handle it?”
Rave shrugged. “Ask Vaako, it’s his plan,” he replied dryly. “I was rather mad when we got the former ‘First among Commanders’, bloody loyal Vaako for a Captain. But I will say this for him: he is a good man, better than I believed he could be. And most of his plans worked so far, even two or three which sounded really nuts.”
Riddick’s eyes narrowed. “Good for you, you respect him. He must have taken you down a dozen times.”
“So he did.” Rave’s voice grew thoughtful. “Tough half the times he fought me during this first terrible month, I believe he was looking for someone to kill him. Someone who would plunge a knife deep into his heart, to make the pain go away for ever.”
“Make your report to the Purifier,” Riddick ordered. “It’s time we got moving.”
***
Night had fallen, cold stars were glistening in the night sky, a thousand burning jewels on a deep velvet blanket. Riddick heard Vaako’s light steps approach. “The troop is ordered to launch back to Necropolis in four hours sharp, my Lord,” he reported.
Riddick exhaled softly, the air was chilly and tasted of death; it never did anything else down here. “The name is Riddick,” he said, his eyes scanning the shaded landscape around.
“My Lord?” Vaako’s voice betrayed he was puzzled.
“My name is Riddick, and you will call me that. This eternal ‘yes, my Lord, no, my Lord, three bags full, my Lord’ is getting on my nerves. Besides, right now the Lord Marshal up there is the Purifier.”
“He isn’t. He’s just a power-hungry man who tries to claim something that is too big for him.” Vaako’s voice had grown cold as he said this.
“Like you did once.” Riddick observed. He saw Vaako turn and avert his gaze. By now he had learned to read some of Vaako’s body language. Vaako was ashamed and hid something which he did not want to admit. “Right. Like I did.” He admitted in a bitter hush.
Softly burying his hand in Vaako’s long dark hair, Riddick forced him to look him into the eyes. Vaako trembled slightly, but did not resist; his eyes were filled with a storm of emotions. “Tell me,” Riddick whispered. “Tell me, why did you attack my predecessor, who thought highly of you, and yet you stand with me, a fallen Lord Marshal, who took it out on you?”
He felt Vaako flinch, but did not let go of him. The green eyes seemed to burn. “I could not let him kill you,” Vaako’s voice was barely a whisper. “And I won’t let them, either.”
Steps hastily drawing closer broke into the moment. Riddick let go of Vaako, and turned towards Adrien who was approaching. “The Purifier changed his opinion. He wants us up there at once.”
***
The transport ships launched from the surface of Minerva Twelve. Riddick settled back into the sarcophagus, grinning at the plan. The Necromonger society would have their first Lord Marshal rising from death today. He had the distinct feeling that they were not yet done with this wretched homeworld of Vaako’s, but first he had to get control of the Necromongers again. The thought of the ravaged world below made him think of Vaako again, who was right now hidden among the troop. In the uniform of the Necromonger armour, he’d attract no attention. Outside the sarcophagus, Riddick heard the voices of the soldiers, prepping their weapons, talking in hushed voices. Inwardly, he smiled. He’d found his army after all.
To rise from the ashes
Vaako studied the situation they were marching into through the visor of his heavy helmet. Wrapped in the anonymous shell of a necromonger armour he was not to be distinguished from all the other Necromongers around. Ravyn was right now marching at the very top of the troop, behind him Adrien, Bane, Baldrien and Chris were carrying the sarcophagus, with a heavily armed “Honour guard” at each side. Behind them Vaako marched with the rest of the glorious bunch of misfits, who were clearly enjoying the situation. Some practical insubordination was right up their alley.
The Basilica was humming with life, Vaako noted as they eventually reached the great Necropolis. The court was already assembled. The bright lighting startled Vaako. Had he really already gotten used to the dark lighting that Riddick preferred? Vaako nearly flinched when he saw the gathering crowd, saw those high doors and the circle behind. He would enter this hall again to fight for his life. Would he ever be able to enter the Necropolis again without checking if he had at least one knife ready? He forced his musing and his fears into the back of his mind and begun to study the court. First among commanders, Toal, stood at the right of the throne, where the Purifier was sitting. Vaako had expected nothing else, but the woman, resting beside the Purifier made him look down at once. His wife, his – former – wife, now rightfully wife of an usurping Lord Marshall was eagerly watching the procession as they came near. Her eyes were scanning the sarcophagus with an appreciation that seemed perverted to Vaako. He forced himself to ignore her, and studied the rest of the court. Many of the nobles seemed as eager as his former wife. Few of the military commanders were present here. He saw Keshal, who was usually leading the splinters of dead, small deadly fightercraft, ideally suited for breaking through planetary defences, and Pavár, another commander of ground troops, along with two or three others. A jet black armour among all the grey shells made him look again. A little aside from the other commanders stood Cmdr. Scar, he must have been recalled from the planetary surface for the ceremony. Vaako nodded inwardly. Scar would not accept a new Lord Marshall except the old one was dead. It had been hard enough to convince him of Riddick’s rightful claim. Vaako recalled. A knight of the Underverse had not been easy in accepting a mere breeder. Cautiously Vaako studied the face of his old mentor. Like always the stony features betrayed nothing what the man might think, the irongrey hair was thoroughly tied back, tough. Which told Vaako that Scar either expected trouble, or had returned freshly from the surface without time to change. Scar looked up, his grey eyes scanning him, and Vaako hastily averted his gaze. He did not know how his former mentor and friend might react to seeing him. Had it been only his own life, Vaako would have trusted Scar at once, but there was too much at stake right now.
The whole troop came to an abrupt halt before the throne. Ravyn did not kneel, he merely saluted. Vaako had known he would, amused he saw the anger rise in the Purifiers eyes. The man wanted to punish Ravyn for his insubordination, but he had other priorities, so he let it pass. “Bring the sarcophagus.” He ordered.
The sarcophagus was set down before the throne. On Ravyn’s short gesture, the troop formed a ceremonial semi-circle around it. Vaako found himself standing on the utter left end of the formation, very close to where the commanders were standing. He could study them, from below his helmet. Scar stood his arms braced in front of his chest, his whole appearance betrayed a hard contained composure. Whatever these events meant to him, he didn’t take them lightly. Keshal stood relaxed, observing the scene with an odd amusement, that irritated Vaako. He and Keshal had once been something like friends, and he hated to think his former friend might have been turned against Riddick. Toal was openly gloating at the still closed sarcophagus, while Pávar and Elzir studied the scene with some delight too. Involuntarily Vaako had to suppress the urge to check on his knifes again. He’d fight for more than his life this night, and against more than one beast, this much was sure.
The Purifier called forth three of the courtiers to open the sarcophagus, obviously trying to keep a balance of the ceremonial, that had already been grossly disrupted by the way Ravyn had organised his troop. The heavy lid was slowly raised. From the corner of his eye Vaako could see all the attendants of the scene, all court, drawing closer. Anger rose inside him. Did they really delight that much in the Lord Marshall’s death? Only seconds after, the lid of the coffin flew wide open crashing to the ground. Riddick had risen from his alleged tomb, standing tall among the Necormongers. His grin was directed at the Purifier. “Missed me?”
Jumping from her seat Vaako saw his former wife grabbing a light up pistol from one of the guardsmen and raising it. Involuntarily she gave Ravyn the sign to act. The broad shouldered fighter tossed two heavy grenades towards that point of the ceiling, where the main powergrid was located. Within moments the lights blanked out. Just before the darkness fell Vaako saw Riddick right about to be encircled by enemies.
All of sudden Vaako whirled around, one of his blades gliding from his hand, whirling through the dark air, a metal shriek heralded the death of an opponent. Vaako sped up, to retrieve his blade, carrying the attack right into the circle of their enemies, his eyes were still well adjusted to the darkness, thanks to their time in Morningdale city. Riddick stood tall, taking on as many as there came, not caring about numbers. Vaako knew that some Necromongers on seeing the Lord Marshall alive were sure to join with them again but right now the Lord Marshal had had an unlucky standing, being cornered between some noblemen and the Purifiers guard, easily the strongest among their enemies. But Vaako did not hesitate for a moment unleashing a whirlwind attack on them. Even as two other Necormongers tried to take him down same time, he did hardly slow down. Riddick leaped into an attack, that misdirected the deadly blow from Vaako before it could hit home. The Necromonger warrior, unaware of any new adversary took a serious wound from this blow, his metal gear scattering around the Basilicia. Vaako soon found himself not fighting one opponent but four of them. He broke free from his first adversary, spun around and saw himself confronted with a smaller warrior, who had some extrastrong armour, which was slightly a disadvantage for the him, because could not move as deftly as Vaako did. He dodged the first attack, diving below the scimitars, and delivering a thrust upwards, that nearly broke through the armour. But a harsh blow, dealt out with the full strength armoured body of the Necormonger, threw him backwards. He jolted, landing on his feet again. He set a hard snap kick against the warrior to his left, trained by Toal no doubt, his trainees hardly ever understood the art of weaponless fighting, and unleashed a whirlwind of attacks on the first one, who parried half of them, and suffered some damage from the rest. Caught in between these fighters Vaako had also received the first wounds, nothing really serious by now, but he knew he was not to last long if things went on this way. Again he spun delivering another snap catching one of his enemies off guard, he fell backwards, exposing one of the Nobles who still fought Riddick. Vaako sliced him deftly in two pieces and some junk, that littered the ground all around them. One enemy after the other fell from their swords, metal pieces clashing to the ground, dying men in between. Vaako’s blade bit deep into their last enemy, the Necormonger suddenly collapsed a grenade exploded in his falling hand, something hot slid along Vaako’s left arm.
Another explosion nearly threw Vaako off his feet, he managed barely to remain standing, his blade slashing through another Necromonger. Someone in here had gone to use heavy firepower and grenades. Bad idea inside a ship that was in space. Did Toal ever even mention this to his trainees? Riddick by now had armed himself with a heavy axe whirling it effortlessly he hit two others of their adversaries. For a moment they managed to break free. What remained of their small fighting force was regrouping in the center of the hall. Another wave of enemies hit them, forcing them to fight in closed quarters to cover each other. Deep ins heart Vaako began asking himself whether they could hold out for long. The lights would recover soon, and if fresh troops arrived. Then we’ll die. If I am to die here… I’ll have no regrets. Concentrating on the battle again he dumped a heavy mans corpse, using it as a shield against a heavy blast. Up till now the statues and pillars of the hall were protecting them from the heavier blast canons. At least the deadly rain of light came only from one direction, but it got stronger and would eventually burn them to cinders. Riddick’s whirled through the air, as he disposed of half a dozen enemies. The explosives fired by less courageous courtiers were far more dangerous for them, crumbling the scarce cover they had with any new hit, that shock ship around them. A flash caught his eye as Riddick’s axe split another Necromonger in two. Suddenly the lights flared again, bathing the hall in painful brightness. Through the main gate and the side entrances a flood of warriors pored down. Vaako’s heart sank more reinforcements. Another explosion shook the hall, but it had nowhere been near them. It took Vaako a moment to realise that the newly arrived troops were taking out their adversaries. Caught between two fronts the resisting followers of the Purifier did not last long. In the middle of the fight Vaako recognised the armour of their support troop. These were Scar’s men, a tough elite force obviously here to support their commander. Having a moments breath Vaako looked around, seeing Scar in the middle of bloody fighting field near the throne. The old warrior had held his own against the Purifiers cronies. He had support in Keshal, who had obviously had remained loyal to the Lord Marshall.
And then, suddenly it was over. Silence fell over the hall, there was no other noise then the harsh breathing of the warriors, the bristling of the abused lights and the swoshing sound of the icy air. Riddick, gory from the battle, marked by scorches and wounds, stood above the corpse of the Purifier, his eyes scanning his loyal troops. A frown went into Scar’s direction, Vaako was sure Riddick didn’t know what to make out of the old warrior. Beneath Scar’s feet smashed on the steps of the throne lay the corpse of Vaako’s successor as first among commanders, Ravyn, standing not far had done away with Commander Pavár, Bane had finished of Elzir, others had killed the minor followers of the Purifier. Looking closer Vaako realised that the bulky enemy he had used as a shield against one of the blasts had been Toal, lying no dead at his feet. Riddick saw the whole scene and grinned. “You keep what you kill, boys.” His eyes again scanned the crowd. “And I think I’m gonna like the new court.”
***
The corpses had been cleared out the Necropolis. Vaako had supervised the process, drawing up a list of casualties and dead enemies. He was tired on his feet, but he had wanted this done, and done by himself. Now, as the last name was processed through, he knew for sure: his former wife wasn’t among them. Somehow she had managed to escape. Again he scanned the list. There was no mistake. Her body had not been found in the main hall, nor somewhere in the side halls. She had gotten away. Tiredly Vaako ran a hand through his long hair. He’d have to report this to the Lord Marshall first in the morning. No sense trying it now. The Basilicia was fast asleep.
It was eerily silent as Vaako wandered the dimly lit corridors of the ship. The reduced lighting felt somehow more normal to him than the full, bright flare. Except for the guards on duty, mainly men from Scar’s or Keshal’s troop, the hallways were empty. Vaako noted half a dozen weak spots in the makeshift guard pattern. He’d have to see to it by tomorrow. You keep what you kill. Again the sentence had shifted the path of his life. Toal had been commander of the main Basilicia along with some of the core troops. Which made the Basiliscia Vaako’s duty from now on. He stopped peering down the empty hallways left and right. Strange. Only days ago he had dreaded this place and avoided the upper halls, now they where his duty again. He didn’t envy Scar for his task. Working with this new set of Commanders would prove difficult. They were capable, yes, they were creative, right but they were highly dangerous also. Even as they might be more loyal then to be expected to the Lord Marshal. Vaako slowly descended a long shaft, following empty corridors, his body running on automatic, while his mind was far away. There were dozens of things to organise, to plan and to prepare. There was still Minerva Twelve to deal with. Not to speak of a potential Lord Marshal’s journey to the Underverse.
Vaako halted his steps. He stood before his quarters. Those small quarters he had lived in during those last dark months. Strangely they felt more like home than many other rooms he had used over the years. Perhaps they had not been inherited from someone else, perhaps he had no reminiscences of Dame Vaako here, perhaps this small place had been solely his own. He could have gone to Toal’s quarters, but he had not whished to do so. Clearing out that place, was a task for later. Tonight he just to wanted the blood an grime off himself and to wait for all the changes to sink in. Slipping into the room, he only ignited one of the small lights and waited for the small wash basin to fill. Stripping the bloody clothing he began to wash. The cold water felt good after the long day. Most of his former troop had gotten busted up by their kills today. They would be already in their new quarters, which was why it was so eerily silent down here. It felt strange. Usually he had heard them arguing, laughing and rutting right through the walls. Now it was silent. Like the whole ship was dead, adrift in endless space. Watering down his long tail of hair he contemplated cutting it back again. Rubbing it dry again he shook his head. He liked what he saw in the mirroring wall. It was less tame, less refined, more a warrior, perhaps even a son of Kaltar’s ashes, but it was himself. He had stopped pretending. He’d even face whatever might come out of his feelings for a certain Furyan…
The towel slipped from Vaako’s fingers. Riddick, where was he? Probably in the Lord Marshal’s quarters, asleep. But… they had killed most of the Lord Marshal’s guard today. Who was up there standing guard? Protecting him? Especially when a vengeful Dame Vaako was still around? Scar wouldn’t assign anyone there, without getting approval before. Hastily Vaako dried himself off, getting into his clothes, clean pants, a clean sleeveless shirt, he didn’t feel like an armour right now. He was too tired, had gone without one too often. Slinging his weapons belt around himself, he slipped two additional stilettos into his boots and hastened off. It was still silent in the hallways, but Vaako didn’t waste a moment, taking the fastest way up to the central Necropolis. The Lord Marshal’s personal quarters were some levels higher up, in the highest regions of the ship. Leaving behind the elevator Vaako strode hastily towards the spacious part of the high deck, that was the Lord Marshal’s quarters. No guards anywhere. Gracious semi-dead ones! If an assassin came here, he’d just have to march in. Vaako checked the hallways, they were empty. He stopped to call Keshal. The tired commander was slightly surprised about the call. “Any more guards, Vaako? My men are already patrolling the main Hallways and central decks. So do Scar’s. And the Lord Marshal didn’t say a word about guards on High deck, albeit I see your point.”
Vaako sighed. The Lord Marshal had not said a word about it, which meant that Keshal wouldn’t deploy any men on High deck. Sure, they could raise Scar and make him decide the matter, but he was sure to have his hands full and be not gratefull for another disturbance. And even if he gave his consent, there were simply no decent troops on this ship left. It would take another day to get more from other ships and ship off those troops that would need supervision in the near future. “Alright, Keshal. Have some more men of yours take care of the entrances to High deck,” Vaako decided. “I’ll check the place up here and come down again.” If there wasn’t a danger here, this might work, for a night.
Keshal nodded. “Will do, Vaako. I’ll deploy the Red Hand to do the job. And Vaako… it’s good to have you back.”
Vaako suppressed a smile at the comment as he slid the communications device into his belt again. Keshal had never been a really close friend, but they worked well together. They both had been protégées of Scar.
Like a shadow Vaako glided through the corridors of the High deck. There was no one around. Thirty minutes later he was sure, that outside the Lord Marshal’s quarters anything was alright. Standing in front of the main entrance he contemplated his options, he could assign himself to watch this place for the rest of the night, but it would do no good, if the assassin was already in there. Vaako bit his lip. Usually Riddick could handle any quantity of enemies, but with Dame Vaako on the run the equation had shifted.
Taking a deep breath Vaako placed his hand on the code panel of the door and entered an override code he had found out in his own days of conspiring. The door silently slid open and Vaako slipped into the dark rooms behind. It was dark in here, darker than in even the rest of the ship. But then, Riddick always loved the darkness. It took some moments before Vaako’s eyes adjusted to the complete darkness in here. The he could make out the exterior of the furniture, some pale light, tickling in from the viewport did help. Gazing around Vaako realised that there was only one set of breathing in here, except for his own and this other breathing was deep and steady. Riddick was most likely asleep. Gliding silently as a cat Vaako slid to the left, where he heard them. He perceived a body curled up on the divan, snuggled between some of cushions. ”Exhaustion,” Vaako rationalised. ”He must have collapsed there, after he came up here.”
Riddick had any right to be tired, he had been trough that first fight on Morningdale, their flight through the chambers of dark and light, their subsequent escape from the city and into the battle here. Vaako himself felt more close to sleep than awakening. Yet, something about Riddick made him cautious. He had curled up in a fetal position on the divan, hugging one of the cushions to himself. In the cell, in that few hours, he had slept sitting, ready to jump. Vaako slid closer to the divan. Riddick didn’t seem to be injured or otherwise harmed, but didn’t react to Vaako’s presence. The Necromonger was quite aware that the he was well inside the Furyans awareness radius. But Riddick did not wake. Again worry woke in Vaako. What if Riddick had been injured far worse than anyone knew?
The Basilicia turned, a little more light fell into the room from the one of Minerva’s moons. It was Cassius, the light of the guard, Vaako realised. Light for those who stood guard in the dark nights. He sighed inwardly, would he ever be able to shed the son of Kaltar’s ashes and become a Necromonger fully? In the scarce light, Riddicks muscular frame was high lightened from the cushion pile. He had curled up, deep asleep and was completely unaware of Vaako’s presence. Never before had Vaako seen Riddick so vulnerable. ”How much exhaustion does it need, to make you give in?” Vaako silently asked. “You never allow yourself to be weak, it’s against your Furyan nature. Where do you turn to, when strength fails, when the pain gets to great to bear?” He was tempted to spread one of the blankets across the sleeping man. He gently moved his hand above Riddick’s wrist, without touching it, he felt the steady heartbeat and the deep heat radiating from the sleeping man. He was probably all right, only exhausted and sleeping naturally.
All of sudden Vaako felt a hand closing around his wrist in an iron grip, dragging it down. Riddick had grabbed his wrist without waking up. He just snuggled into another position, unaware whom he held in his grip. Vaako had no chance to yank his hand from that iron grip. ”I’ll have to stay right here, I guess. To stand guard a place as good as any.” he thought.
Unfortunately Riddick settled for sleeping somewhere more in the middle of the large divan. Vaako counterbalanced himself and kicked his boots off. There was no chance to stand, so he could sit down as well. Gracefully settling down on the side of the divan, he gently slung the arm, Riddick held anyway, arund the sleeping man. I have no idea what the morning bring, or what awaits beyond the shadows of Minerva Twelve. But I’ll be here, with you, to guard you. To see you save, to hold you when strength fails you.
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-09 09:39 pm (UTC)From:A Riddick that isn't aware of whats going on around him that is an interesting notion. The fight was thrilling and I will never understand how people can keep a clear head in a situation like that.
Where is that st**** b****??? Arrrrrrrrrrrg, what is the matter with that woman does she has nine lives or something. Can't she just drop dead or something I mean, hello, the underverse is calling her name for ages now....
Geez, so many names I need to remember. I am not good with names. Can't you just give them numbers I am good with number....
Anyway, good chapter and I will dutiful nag you for the next one.
Keep going
no subject
Date: 2006-11-10 04:27 am (UTC)From:Battles are something I like to write at times, and I hope I don't unnerve someone with them. When it comes to Dame Vaako she has seven lifes, her own pact with the devil and a very special route to Underverse. *laughs*
Thanks for the nice comment. And thanks for nagging me!
WOW
Date: 2006-11-09 10:48 pm (UTC)From:Can't wait for more!!
Re: WOW
Date: 2006-11-10 04:27 am (UTC)From:Fic
Date: 2007-02-13 03:21 am (UTC)From:Can't wait for more! XD
Re: Fic
Date: 2007-02-13 09:10 pm (UTC)From:But I am still glad you like the story! Thanks for the nice comment!
Um...
Date: 2007-05-20 11:48 pm (UTC)From: (Anonymous)BTW I checked out your pics of Ireland. They be most Pretty.
P.S. don't really stop eating and sleeping that will make your story sound bad. You'll probably drop letters and things.
Anyway I just thought You might like to know there are some people still out there that would like to see more of your fic.
TTFN
Re: Um...
Date: 2007-05-29 11:44 am (UTC)From:I am writing, but mostly my master's thesis that is. I am constantly trying to get on with writing fiction but I'd need longer days. *laughs*
Anyway, I am glad that some people are still interested in the story. *hugs* Thanks so much. I'm also glad you liked the pictures from Ireland.
Thanks so much for your kind message.
Falconsheart
no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 11:41 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-08-18 01:22 pm (UTC)From:As said before, I hope thigs are going well for you and continue to do so
x
Thank you for coming back to this
Date: 2008-01-20 10:47 am (UTC)From:And the Lady McBeth wannabe - yech.
More please.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-11 12:15 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-08 02:56 pm (UTC)From:Excellent story, keep up the good work.
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