Something in me understands the voice of your eyes.
~Somewhere I have never traveled by E.E. Cummings~
Carolyn rubbed her tired, scratchy eyes and threw her head back against the pillow wondering if she could just pretend to stay asleep. She could hear the girls' high-pitched voices along with Riddick's deeper voice in the living area of their suite. She had never avoided her daughter but it wasn't every day that you buried a daughter either. Combined with the answers that Riddick was surely going to want from her today and if she had to deal with Vaako it was enough to make her want to hide here forever. She felt someone sit down beside her on the bed and cracked an eye to see who was going to drag her from her self-pity imposed exile. Aereon. She should have known.
"You need to get up. We have things to do today."
"Really?" she asked, the sarcasm evident in her voice.
"There's no need to be snippy," she replied. "Vaako has already been by this morning."
Carolyn groaned and rolled over away from the elemental.
"He requested that you wear this dress today."
Carolyn turned her head back towards the woman who pointed towards the end of the bed. She sat up looked at the dress and immediately flopped back on the bed. "I simply cannot handle Vaako or his pet bitch today."
"I know. However he's already down on the planet with a company of men. Riddick has ordered them to dig graves for your daughter, as well as for Imam and his wife. They will find their bodies and bury them before we leave to take the girl down."
As soon as the Elemental had started talking about the burial her tears started falling. Aereon sat silently with her holding her hand. She finally turned her head towards the older woman.
"Have you seen Riddick? How are the girls?"
"We've all had breakfast and he's getting to know his children"
"Oh god! What do you mean?" Carolyn panicked, sitting straight up in bed.
"Carolyn, that man is not stupid. Now, why don't you take a shower and get ready. I'll go make you a plate. And instead of wearing this hideous thing why don't you wear the somewhat less hideous thing that I left for you in the bath." Winking at her, she left to join the others.
Carolyn headed straight to the sink to brush her teeth. Then turning the water in the shower on as hot as she could stand it she climbed in letting it soothe some of the ache out of her body. She only wished it could do the same for her soul. She finished up and finally went in search of the dress that Aereon had left for her. Carolyn couldn't help but chuckle when she saw it. It was light gray with long fitted sleeves but had a low scoop neck with a high standing collar. It was sure to showcase her chest and throat and the marks from her shower escapades with Riddick yesterday. Vaako was going to flip. Carolyn quickly did her hair and then scrambled into the dress. She slipped on the heels laid out and grabbed the cloak that went with the outfit.
Entering the living area she didn't have a chance to brace herself as she fell to the ground in a whirlwind of squeals. Carolyn rolled around on the ground with the two girls for a few minutes before she heard someone clearing their throat trying to get their attention. Carolyn looked up sheepishly at Riddick standing over them and then looked around and noticed everyone else that was in the room. A blush covered her from chest to eyes. She smoothed her hair back and then reached out to take the hand that Riddick offered. He lifted her to her feet pulling her up against him.
"I think I like this dress," he said in her ear, running a finger along the neckline causing her blush to turn even deeper.
"Richard! We have guests. Besides, don't you think we've more important things to attend to right now?"
He slipped her down the front of his body till her feet hit the floor. "Yes, and we'll have a talk about the most important thing after we get back from the surface." Slipping his goggles up so she could see his eyes he took a hold of her chin in his fingers leaning down to kiss her. "She's beautiful Carolyn. Thank you."
Carolyn smiled against his lips and clung to his arms as he kissed her. They were broke apart by someone tugging on Riddick's pants. "Daddy, come on! We weren't finished looking at my picture book!" Rory demanded of her father. Riddick brushed his fingers across Carolyn's cheek and turned giving his complete attention to his daughter. She watched as they settled in a corner looking through Rory's baby book. She made a mental to note to find out who had gotten that up here.
Carolyn gathered Ziza up in her arms and was cuddling the little girl who had recently lost both of her parents while watching him and the girl settled in his lap.
She kissed and then tickled the little girl in her arms, causing her to giggle, turning towards Aereon and breakfast.
Vaako entered the room a while later as Carolyn and Aereon were clearing away the breakfast dishes and listening to Ziza happily chattering, while Riddick and Rory were still lost in their own world.
Vaako whose jaw was set in a nasty scowl moved to hover over Carolyn eyeing her neckline. Riddick's head shot up as he watched Carolyn shove Ziza behind her as she and Vaako engaged in a quietly spoken battle of wills. The Necro soldiers seemed suddenly tense as Carolyn planted her nose and finger in Vaako's chest.
"Let's go see what your mama is up to little one." Once he was standing she slipped her hand into his and he closed his great paw around it. While making their way across the room Riddick saw Carolyn turn her back on Vaako with a huff and bend down to lovingly kiss Ziza, who was then led away to the other en-suite by Aereon. Rory pulled her hand out of Riddick's and ran the last few feet to her mother who scooped her up.
"Is there a problem?" Riddick asked.
"No." Carolyn answered, turning the side of her body holding Rory into Riddick. He stepped slightly in front of them. "I was just asking about leaving to go to the surface. Vaako was expressing his concern about the children's presence on the planet. I've agreed to leave the girls here with Aereon, Butcher and Sulaco if that's alright with you."
He simply nodded in her direction while watching Vaako. Carolyn kissed Rory goodbye and transferred her into Butcher's arms and turned to collect her cloak off the couch where she had thrown it.
Vaako had arranged for them to take his personal frigate down to the surface. The burial went quickly and Carolyn was grateful that Vaako had found a Monk among the captives who agreed to give an abbreviated funeral service. While Jackie may not have appreciated the effort, Carolyn knew that Imam would have. She was still sodden with guilt over Jackie's death and tried hard to control her emotions through the brief service. Riddick stood behind her giving what support he could. She was surprised at the changes she had seen in him in such a short period of time but God help him if he wanted to stay on that ship and play "Lord Marshal". She refused to raise their children surrounded by death. Her hand went unconsciously to her stomach as she stood next to the graves lost in thought. The service had been over with for many minutes when Vaako, who had been watching her from nearby, approached her. Thinking that Carolyn needed a few moments to herself, Riddick had moved away to speak to the Monk, Kestrel and Kilo about going through Imam and Carolyn's home to retrieve any trinkets or keepsakes that the Monk thought would be appropriate.
He stood looking at the graves with her, "Does he know?"
She turned to face him. "No."
Vaako swung his head her way and simply nodded.
"What will happen to him if he decides to stay with you as Lord Marshall?"
"He will die."
"By your hand?"
Vaako turned to face her. "I would hope to never cause you that pain, Dame Riddick."
Carolyn brushed the tears away from her face. "Thank you, Vaako. Would you take me back to your ship please? I think I'd like to sit down while I wait." Vaako offered his arm and lead her away from the graves, Riddick watching their every move.
Carolyn had been exhausted when they got back and Aereon had immediately taken the girls to their rooms for lunch and a nap after welcoming them back. Riddick carried Carolyn to their bed and laid her gently upon it and then lay down beside her.
"Tell me about Rory." He asked her.
She lay silently for a few moments with a wistful look upon her face. "I remember when Aurora was put in Imams arms for the first time. "Ah, another daughter!" he said." He just knew that Rory would meet her big sister one day and I think he found it amusing that the great Riddick had nothing but females in his life." She smiled softly with a faraway look in her eyes. "And now that Zizza is with us," she trailed off.
He lay quietly beside her, listening to her tell stories about their daughter until she finally fell into a fitful sleep.
He watched her for a few moments and then left the room, ready to get some answers and get down to business. No matter whom he turned to in regards to Carolyn and the girls' guards no one would budge an inch. Even under threat of death from the Lord Marshal himself. He finally decided to let it be and to get Carolyn involved when she awoke. He next turned to his second in command, Commander General Vaako. Under the guise of a tour and introductions to other Commanders, Riddick was slowly able to piece together the story of his and Carolyn's relationship. He had no idea that she had been here the entire time. The man was clearly besotted with Carolyn but posed no threat to either of them. They had more to worry about from that viper Vaako called a wife. From what Aereon had told him he would probably kill the bitch the next time he saw her and told Vaako as much. It became clear after that conversation that he had no idea what his wife or the last Lord Marshall had been up to where Carolyn was concerned. From the look on his face Riddick figured there was a good chance no one would be seeing Dame Vaako after her husband got done with her.
He finally headed back to his quarters. The children were playing quietly in the living area and Riddick stopped for a moment to ruffle their hair causing them to giggle. He went looking for Carolyn in their bedroom. She was lying on the bed with her eyes closed. He sat down next to her and took a hand in his rubbing circles with his thumb. She smiled and opened her eyes looking at him, then promptly sighed.
"What is it Richard? I know that look. Just spit it out."
"I never wanted this for any of you. I just wanted you to be safe."
"Don't you think I know that?"
"I need to know what's going on." He said leaning over her placing a hand on her waist.
She sighed and threw a hand over her eyes. "I know. I know. Who's here?"
"The one called Prowse."
"Would you please ask him to come here?"
He laid her hand gently on the bed and moved to the doorway. It seemed that Prowse instantly appeared.
"Dame Riddick?"
She pulled herself up into a sitting position swinging her legs off the side of the bed. "It's time. Please gather the others."
He nodded and left the room.
Richard watched the Necro leave with a glare.
Carolyn rolled her eyes.
"Richard."
He turned to look at her. She reached out her hand. "Please, come help me get cleaned up." He was at her side in a second helping her slip her shoes back on and led her into the bath where he sat her on the counter and found a cloth that he wet with warm water.
"Careful Riddick, you wouldn't want to damage that killer reputation now would you?"
He took the cloth and gently wiped her face with it and she sighed at the feeling. He tilted her chin up and she opened her eyes. "In these rooms and in our bed you will never doubt how I feel for you and our children. Out there my only concern can be keeping you alive" he said setting the cloth aside.
She ran her hand along the side of his face and gave him a smile. "I think we have some people waiting on us." He kissed the palm of her hand and then leaned in to kiss her before lifting her off the counter and standing her on her feet. With that she turned, straightened her back and made her way to the living area. Sitting on the smaller of the two sofas Carolyn indicated the seat next to her.
"Riddick, please."
There were six Necro soldiers lined up at attention in front of them. She made a small lifting motion with her hands and the soldiers removed their helmets tucking them under their arms.
She smiled at them. "Please introduce yourselves."
They stepped forward one by one.
"Prowse."
" Kilo."
"Sulaco."
" Butcher."
" Chode."
" Kesteral."
As each man introduced himself Riddick looked him in the eye. Not one looked away and he got the sense that these men truly cared for Aurora and her mother and would go so far as to give their lives for them. What he didn't know was why. He was determined that he would soon find out though as these men were clearly devoted to his daughters' mother. Riddick stood and circled the men taking a closer look. He took his time in particular with Butcher and Chode, before coming to stand behind the couch that Carolyn was perched upon.
"Richard, please come sit down. I don't want to have to keep straining my neck trying to look at you while I talk."
Riddick suddenly had a very strange feeling about these men come over him and wanted some distance from them. "I think I'd rather stand," he told her crossing his arms over his chest.
Carolyn sighed. She recognized that I'm a tree trunk and not moving look. Rolling her eyes she gathered her dress and went to stand with Chodes help. All six of the men had stepped forward ready to assist her causing the scowl on Riddick's face to deepen. Carolyn stood in the opening that the solders had made. Three on each side of her and turned to face Riddick. His scowl went into a sudden death glare.
"Carolyn," he growled giving fair warning in just which direction his patience was going.
"Richard, did you by chance have an opportunity to meet the Purifier before he died?" She inquired looking down at her feet. Just thinking about the man brought tears to her eyes and after the events of the last two days the tears were freely falling. Kestrel handed her a handkerchief and she quietly thanked him.
Riddick cocked his head looking at her. Alarms were suddenly screaming in his head.
"Yes. We had and interesting conversation before he killed himself."
Carolyn gasped with this new knowledge. She looked at him searching his face for something. He wasn't sure what. All he knew was that the feeling he had was getting stronger.
Riddick finally broke the silence. "It's been a long day Carolyn, and I've never known you for beating around the bush." Riddick was beginning to think that she was trying to protect them from him.
"The Purifier assigned these men to me before he left to accompany Vaako."
"And?"
"Show him," she finally said looking Riddick in the eye. The soldiers proceeded to take their top body armor off as Carolyn and Riddick continued to make eye contact. She slowly rounded the couch as the men began to unzip their tunics that they were wearing under their armor. He turned his head back to the men experiencing a tightening in his chest similar to the feeling he had when he had seen the aura handprint on the Purifier's chest. There before him were six Necro soldiers with the same identical handprint. He looked down at his chest and could see the handprint glowing. Before he had thought it was because of Rory. Now he knew better.
"How? Aereon said that none of you survived."
He felt a breeze on his face just as she materialized beside him smiling at the soldiers, "Aereon was wrong and never happier to be so. There are more Furyans scattered among the ships that are loyal to Carolyn and her children. While these men have done their best to protect them the others are ready to get them off of this ship at a moments notice."
"Why?" Riddick demanded, the information spinning in his head trying to link with his visions of what Shirah had shown him.
Sulaco stepped forward, "We know that there are other Furyan survivors but as far as we know you are the last Alpha Furyan. It is of the upmost importance that your bloodline continues."
Riddick looked at Carolyn but spoke to Sulaco, "Any children I have will only be half Furyan," his words causing Carolyn to blush and her hands to go to her stomach. His eyes narrowed in thought.
"That is true," Butcher responded, "And while there will probably be those who wish you to take a full blooded mate, our loyalties lie with Dame Riddick and we will protect her and her children to our death if needed."
Riddick walked over to the sideboard, pouring a glass of water. "You keep saying "children."
Carolyn shot a panicked look at Aereon who just raised an eyebrow and then looked to Butcher for help.
She had her eyes closed rubbing her forehead as he turned around knowing that he would have picked up on the brief hesitation before Butcher answered him.
"The other child, Ziza, Dame Riddick considers her a daughter. "
Riddick led Carolyn to a chair, waiting for her to settle before handing her the glass of water. He bent down putting his lips to her ear and a hand over her stomach. "No liquor. Period. Am I understood?"
"Yes," she whispered, meeting his eyes.