The Chronicles Of Riddick: Voyage To Underverse
Chapter 1
"You keep what you kill…"
You keep what you kill. So say the Necros. Those World Enders who convert or kill everyone they cross on their way to Underverse.
Underverse. A fucking bullshit term they use to describe their version of Heaven. Or is it Hell? All I do know is that these Necros… these fucking parasites… killed Kyra. Destroyed all I know. Tossed her to her death. Fuck. She was one of them.
Convert or die. Yet they kill their own. Where's the sense in that? It's all bullshit and now I'm their leader. Well, their agenda's gonna change. That's what happens when an animal's in charge. When a Furyan's in charge… They don't know who they're fuckin' with.
&&&
Aereon looked down upon the new Lord Marshall sitting on the Necromonger throne. The new Furyan Lord Marshall, she corrected herself. A smile crept over her lips as she watched them all mindlessly bowing down before the man that fulfilled the prophecy foretold by her people. Out of the corner of her eye, however, she noticed Dame Vaako. The Necromonger beauty's face was filled with horror at the sight of what just happened. The Air Elemental felt a surge of satisfaction despite her claims of steadfast neutrality upon seeing the woman's plans unravel into nothingness. She knew that the Necromonger yearned for power and was hoping to achieve it through her husband. Obviously, her original plans had been foiled. Now, it was only a matter of time before the woman began scheming yet again. But Aereon would worry about that later. Now was not the time.
Riddick stood up, looking out over the bowing Necromongers. Vaako bowed closest to him, right next to Kyra's lifeless body.
"You keep what you kill, Lord Marshall," Vaako stated quietly. The man motioned to the bodies of both the ex-Lord Marshall and Kyra. "It's your honor and your right."
"Fuck you," Riddick replied. He ignored the once holy half-dead and returned to Kyra's side. Gently, he picked her up in his arms and began walking as if to exit the basilica.
"But Lord Marshall," Vaako shouted.
The other Necromongers looked on as Riddick walked off the ship. They were confused by his actions, unable to comprehend what he was trying to do. This was not the Necromonger way.
Aereon continued to smile as she watched Riddick leave. She knew he'd be back. He had more to do if he was to truly vanquish the Necromongers once and for all, and thus save even her own people.
As Riddick walked off the ship and back onto the soil of Helion Prime, Vaako ran away from the crowd in order to catch up to him. After all, he was second in command and it was his duty to see that the transition of power between Lord Marshalls was fluid and flawless.
"Lord Marshall, if you aren't going to take her soul, I suggest you store her body on the basilica. We have special chambers for such things as this… such mistakes." Vaako paused.
"I'm listening," Riddick answered. His eyes concentrating on Kyra's expressionless face as he continued walking to wherever his feet would take him.
"Well, there are two choices for the death of every honorable Necromonger. We strive to reach Underverse."
Riddick stopped abruptly. "Fuck the Underverse and your holy hell!"
"But Lord Marshall, if you don't take her soul, she'll never reach Underverse."
"Her soul's not mine to take."
"Then bring her back to the basilica. We can preserve her soul for quite some time until you finally see reason."
"Her soul's not mine to take." Riddick's voice was much more forceful this time.
"If you want her to reach her destiny, you will see that she reaches Underverse. You'll see her again if you release her and let her go. The destiny of every Necromonger is one and the same. We are to make the pilgrimage to Underverse and pass through its gate while bringing as many with us as possible."
There was a small silence before Riddick finally spoke. "You said there's a gate?" he continued staring at Kyra's face while letting the Necromonger ramble on.
"Yes, but only Necromongers may pass through. It's on the planet rumored to be called Valhalla. We aren't sure where it is, only that we must continue traveling towards the galaxy's center. It is now your honor to lead us there."
Riddick's silver-shined eyes shone just slightly as Vaako rambled on about Underverse and Valhalla.
"Fine, we'll put her in the basilica. Show me these preservation chambers."
Vaako bowed and let out a small sigh of relief. "As you wish, Lord Marshall."
&&&
Toombs felt as if his nerves were on fire as the hellhounds continued to swipe at him like a piece of meat. He was pissed; Riddick shouldn't have been able to do this to him. The merc had spent quite some time tracking the bastard and after two attempts had nearly sealed the deal. Then all hell had broken loose. He just couldn't take the money; that damned 70 thousand credits the slam boss offered him for bringing Riddick in. He just had to be greedy and demand more, thus playing right into Riddick's goddamned plan. And now here he was still on Crematoria, down in the pits and locked up in a cage with two fucking hellhounds trying to pummel him from either side.
"Damn you, Riddick!" Toombs shouted for the umpteenth time.
He didn't know why he felt the need to curse and shout. It gave him some small sense of satisfaction, but it wasn't helping him out of the situation.
After what felt like hours, the hellhounds calmed down a bit. Toombs could still hear the low growls in their throats, but he knew that they were tired. He'd have a chance to think for a moment or two while the beasts rested. And he knew that rest would be short-lived. He had to think quickly. His plan needed to be perfect.
Toombs carefully placed himself in the center of his very small cell so that he could be as far away from the beasts as possible. He rubbed the scar near his right eye as he tried to formulate an escape plan. Across the way he could see the rope and chains that had once held his prize down in this hell hole. They were empty now, but still dangling. He knew that he could possibly climb them if he could actually get to them. That right there would be difficult. The hellhounds were fast and their senses were keen. There was no way he'd be able to get to the rope before they caught up to him. Then, there was the issue of getting out of the cell. The gate was locked and he didn't know where the key was, if there even was one any longer.
"Fuck," he muttered to himself.
The merc tried to keep his cool, but his eyes frantically searched for anything nearby that might be useful. About an arm's length away, he saw some sort of metal fragment. He just might be able to use it to pick the lock to his cell. That is, if he could reach it without the hellhounds mauling him and ripping his arm out of the socket.
"Shit," he muttered.
Toombs continued to wait as the hellhounds slowly drifted off to sleep. He nearly did himself in a few times by trying to move too soon; those bastards' senses were keen. But finally, it was apparent that the beasts were sleeping. Whether or not it was sleeping soundly was yet to be determined, but if he was even remotely going to succeed in getting out of this hellhole alive, he needed to take advantage of every opportunity. This was his chance.
He laid flat on the ground in his cell, trying his best to stay centered and away from the hellhounds. They could wake any minute and ghost him right there. Slowly, quietly, he reached his arm out into the open beyond the bars holding him prisoner. His fingertips could barely touch the metal he was trying for. Barely.
"Fuck this," Toombs whispered to himself.
The merc continued to strain his body as he reached for the metal that could be his ticket out of Hell. His fingers were sweaty, making it that much harder to grip the metal piece. Finally, he was able to grasp it and he quickly drew his arm back into his cell.
The beasts continued to sleep, and Toombs smiled like a kid who just received a present for no reason at all. Immediately, he jammed the metal piece into the keyhole on the lock of his cell. He twisted it and pushed it and pulled it until he finally heard a click. That was his chance. Maybe, just maybe, if he could get out of the pit, the control room damage would be minimal and he could get off the Godforsaken planet.
He stood back for a moment, trying to calculate his chances at making it to the dangling rope leading to freedom. If those beasts woke up, he knew his chances would be slim. However, he also knew that the only way out was up and that meant taking the chance no matter the risk. Better to die trying than just waiting for the pits of Crematoria to consume him whole.
Finally, when he mustered up enough courage, Toombs pushed the cell door open. The hellhounds continued to sleep. Quietly, he inched his way towards the rope. Once he was about halfway there, he chanced a glance back at the hellhounds. It was enough to wake them.
Instantly, the hellhounds awoke and leaped towards Toombs. Without thinking, the merc ran to the dangling rope. He jumped up and desperately tried to climb it. He felt something pulling on his leg, first by the cloth of his pants and then suddenly by his flesh. The pain was shocking and brutal, running up the entire length of his leg.
Toombs shouted, but the hellhounds continued to swipe and bite. He then used his free leg to kick one of the beasts in the head. It flew backwards and skidded across the ground. The merc's kick gave him some momentum, which he skillfully used to his advantage. The jerking caused the beast biting him to lose its hold. When he swung back toward it again, he pushed his feet against its head and swung himself up onto the higher platform.
"Shit," he muttered.
Toombs' leg was bleeding badly and it hurt like hell. Regardless, he knew he had to keep moving. He ran along the platform as best he could, considering his new limp, and leaped back onto the dangling rope, but from a higher position this time. The hellhounds growled below, but he was out of their range. He looked upwards and began the climb to freedom.
&&&
The Necromongers looked on in disbelief as Riddick walked passed them, no acknowledgment of their presence given whatsoever. Aereon just smiled as he walked through the Necropolis. She knew he'd return. It had been foretold.
"Where are these preservation chambers?" Riddick demanded as he walked past the body of the previous Lord Marshall.
"This way, Lord Marshall," Vaako answered.
Riddick let out a growl.
"You can place the girl and your predecessor here until you are ready to accept their fate. But I implore you to keep what you kill. It is the Necromonger way. You don't want to cause an uprising. It'll destroy everything."
Riddick laughed menacingly. "Yeah… thought you'd say somethin' like that."
Vaako's expression was one of confusion.
"You Necros, obsessed with death and holy hells. This is not my crusade."
"But the girl?"
"She's dead. I've no reason to be here anymore."
At that moment, Riddick felt something burning against his chest. Or maybe it was freezing. Suddenly he could hear that familiar voice.
Shirah. That's your name, I know it is. You've been hauntin' me since Butcher Bay, since I shined my eyes. These Necros. These World Enders. They destroyed all I know. All I ever could give a damn about. I know you think I can stop 'em, but it's over. It's done. This crusade is not mine. Not anymore.
The burning sensation became more intense and Riddick remembered the Purifier. The one trying to convert everyone on Helion Prime. The one who saved him from the sunrise on Crematoria. The one who was also Furyan.
Riddick suddenly turned to look into Vaako's eyes. The Necromonger winced slightly at the piercing gaze of his new leader.
"Put 'em in the chambers and we'll head toward Valhalla."
"But shouldn't we dispatch ships to Helion…"
"I said we make for Valhalla." Riddick's voice dripped with the frustration of having to repeat himself.
"Yes, Lord Marshall."
&&&
Toombs limped across the last several yards of the corridor, his body scratched, battered and bruised. He was using the walls for support. Finally, he reached the control room. Dead bodies dripping with blood and stinking of decay were strewn everywhere.
"Aw shit," Toombs muttered to himself. The room was a complete disaster and he was certain he'd need a miracle for any of the equipment to be operational. He was going to die on Crematoria.
Just then, Toombs heard a noise. It sounded like a grunt. Immediately, the merc's head shot up. Quickly, he scanned the area until his eyes settled on the crumpled form of a woman.
"Logan?"
"Toombs? Is that you?" The woman's voice was weak.
"Fuck me, Logan! How the hell did you survive? I thought you were dead. I'd've bet my life on it!"
The woman's face twisted. "Don't know," she answered. She remembered that man standing over her once things had calmed down. His silver gaze had pierced her soul. She remembered asking him if he was going to kill her, but he had only smirked and walked on, leaving her behind. "Lucky, I guess."
"Guess so," Toombs replied. "You think any of this stuff still works?"
"Don't know. Maybe. Can't feel my legs though."
Toombs exhaled forcefully. Suddenly he didn't feel so bad. He merely had a limp and Logan was crumpled on the floor. He did a quick check on the only female member of his once five-member crew. She looked like hell, but he knew that she was strong. Hell, that's why he picked her for his crew. She had a good chance of making it, provided that the equipment in the control room still worked. His ship was fucked, so he really had no other alternative. He had to send out a signal from the slam. And he also knew if he didn't get help soon, there was a good chance Logan would die. She was strong, but not that strong.
"Well, no broken bones, you lucky bitch. But you have a nasty gash along your back. Probably hit a few nerves." He paused. "Doctors can fix that easy though."
Logan smiled weakly. "You screwin' with me, Toombs? I'm not gonna die?"
The merc hesitated for a second, hoping that he could get the equipment working if it wasn't already. "Nah. I'll send out a radio signal in no time. 'Nother merc ship'll pick it up and we'll be off this Hell."
Logan smiled again and Toombs instantly began fiddling with the equipment.
"I'm still in shock, Logan. You actually survived a brawl with Riddick. That doesn't happen too often."
"Guess I was too good," she laughed half-heartedly.
"Yeah, that fucker never leaves survivors 'less he has a reason. Actually, he probably thought you were dead or almost dead anyway. Cold son of a bitch."
Logan just lay there silently as Toombs worked. If Riddick didn't kill her, he must have had a reason. He had to have known that she'd live. Toombs might think he left her for dead, but she knew damn well that the man wasn't stupid. Plus, his senses were too keen to be fooled. Riddick could tell if someone was dying or not. She was sure of it. He had to know that she wouldn't die. He left her alive for a reason. But why?
"Yeah… cold…" she mumbled.
