A/N: Alright so here it is the wonderful squeal to Nightshade. Sorry about the wait but I wanted to have a good base for the story. Also if you haven't read the first one that should be fine it may help to explain who everyone is but other than that that you should be golden.

~The Rising~

Chapter one

"Is she ready yet?" The voice had no owner that I could see, but if felt cold. A woman stepped forward her face blurred but the nagging in my mind said that I knew her, and a tingle ran down my spine.

"Almost my lord, the readings are strong but she is not fully prepared." Lilith's voice answered her face slowly coming into focus but she looked nothing like the woman I had seen only five years ago.

"There is another matter she has failed to mention my lord, the slave has found her name." Another voice, this one reminded me of a vipers hiss. She kept speaking after the pause.

"We are going to have to remind her of her place my lord." A wave of panic ran down my spine.

"Knowing her name is of little problem, it just makes her easier to get to I assure you." Lilith stated getting a rough laugh from the other woman.

"How do you know that, a slave is not meant to know there name, Shill. Or has your vision been clouded by knowing your name."

"Enough!" The two women looked at the man who was now standing and walking down the stairs that lead to his throne, quickly they both lowered their heads.

"It matters not if she knows her name or not. Though if what Lilith says is true then I think it's all going according to plan. The more willing she is the better." My vision stated to swirl as he looked my way and spoke.

I shot out of my bunk sweat dropping from my forehead and I allowed myself to fall back into the bed. It's been happening more and more this dream it's always the same, but the more it happened the more I doubted that it was a dream, maybe the great shadow was telling me something. Shaking off the unease that ran tough me I stood up and made my way to the latrine. The ship was silent telling me that Kyra and Kimber were still asleep. Washing my face a sigh escaped my lips; it had been five years since we had landed on New Mecca, a year after that Riddick left, and Jack changed her name to Kyra. It wasn't too long after that the three of us had a little run in with some Mercs, and from there it had been hell. We spent a year in a slam before escaping and now it's been two years on the run, and no sign of Riddick or Lilith other than my dreams. Looking into the mirror a frowned a bit, I hadn't seen much change in myself over the years. Maybe I looked a bit more grown up, I till kept my hair short, the front went down to my jaw and it got shorter the further back. My eyes had darkened a little so they seemed a black purple now. I hadn't grown and inch which was annoying. Making me the shortest in the group, Kimer was the tallest and had changed the most in the time I had known her. Her blonde hair was now darker and she kept it short it, her green eyes were always full of wonder though you could see the anger she had tucked away in them. Her style had changed from that of a warrior and in sometimes I had to remind myself that she wasn't always so. She was a great sniper and acted as our medic, thus she always wore cargo pants to hold supplies and unlike Kyra and I she loved her tee shirts. Kyra on the other hand was monster all around, she's the reason we were always in trouble, but we didn't mind it just insured we were never board. Her views on the world were harsh, but I agreed with her fully on them. Though she had become an expert in knife play and shadow attacks. Smiling at the thought I made myself some coffee seeing as that's where my body had lead me while I was in thought. Kyra had embraced Kimbers girlyness if only a little, she had grown her hair back and kept in back in a ponytail, though she still loved her baggy pants and combat boots. I preferred my style it allowed me to move quickly and less likely to get caught on anything. Though buying tight pants was getting harder and harder now days, hell it was hard to buy anything now days, for us anyway. There were so many Mercs out chasing us that I didn't even know what to do.

"Zoe!" Kyra's voice sounded over the com system and I sighed she sounded concerned. Standing I walked over to the nearest com and pressed the button.

"Yes?" I took a drink of my coffee and waited.

"We got mercs on us, impact in 5." Growling I threw my coffee into the ink with my cup and headed to the cockpit. I ran into Kimber on the way who was gearing up.

"After your done will you grab my daggers from underneath my pillow and met me?" I asked stopping next to her.

"impact in 4." Kyra's voice was tight as she spoke, Kimber nodded and I ran up to the cockpit. Opening the door I headed in. I looked through the glass frowning as I saw the ship. Kimber ran in moments later with my belts that held my daggers.

"who?" I asked as I put on my belts while Kimber griped the back of Kyra's chair.

"Mak." Kyra answered slowly, glancing at Kimber I saw her eyes shut before she let out a small breath and opened them.

"Were sitting ducks out here, our shields are still down." Kyra reminded us then looked at me. Reaching over I pulled up the navigation screen.

"Here, land here we can hide then get them when they land." I offered up and Kyra nodded.

"It's a ruin, Zoe." Kimber warned as she pulled more information up.

"Means more cover." I smiled getting a nod before the ship launched into action and our plan was set into motion.

Well let me know what you think. =)