When Faith had awoken, she knew instantly that Vaako was gone. Not just because of the cooling spot in front of her, but a new awareness of the Necro Commander had taken up residence in her mind. She grunted in amused anger as she wondered how many more people could fit in there. Buffy, Riddick and now Vaako. But it didn't really anger her. In fact, even if she would never admit it, she was pleased at having such closeness with what would be her family.
She hesitantly rolled over to look at Riddick. His eyes were twitching beneath the lids and she knew he was close to waking. She sighed internally at the feeling of warmth that cascaded throughout her body. It didn't bear naming but she had a good idea what it was. She watched for long minutes, her eyes roaming over the clean shaven head to the full lips and beyond. Tanned muscled skin that begged to be touched, kissed. It was testament to her growing need that she was oblivious to Riddick's silver eyes now caressing her body. It was only when her eyes return to his that she the smirk gracing his lips. So she did exactly what she had to in order to wipe the look off his face. She kissed him.
Riddick was surprised for a moment at her action. But the moment was an insignificant amount of time as he rolled her under him and took control. His tongue traced her lips before demanding entrance. He could feel the tension enter her body as soon as he had taken control. He realized that after this long, it was hard for her to relinquish and become vulnerable. But he gentled his kiss and wrapped her tightly in his arms. He pulled back from her lips and kissed her cheeks, eyes, chin before moving to her neck. Her soft gasps of breath only enflamed his own need but he kept it simple.
When he pulled back entirely Faith looked to him questioningly. He gave her a genuine smile and raised a hand to her face. He traced her jaw upwards and slipped his fingers into her long silky hair. His hands moving until they reach the back of her neck as he dragged her forward again into another passionate kiss.
Faith had never been treated with such affection and it was playing havoc on her normal Want, Take, Have attitude. But a part of her that she had kept hidden after her fifteenth birthday was reveling in this gentleness. As Riddick once again quieted the kiss she could only smile at the big man's tenderness.
"Well Good Morning to you too, Rid." Faith's voice was breathy and it was witness to his treatment of her that she ignored it.
"Morning, beautiful." He still held her close but his eyes scanned to the spot beyond her. They narrowed in confusion when he listened for movement in the outer rooms, hearing nothing. "Vaako leave?"
Faith stilled and listened for herself. "I can't hear anything either." She extracted herself from Riddick's embrace and slipped from the warmth of the bed. "Gees, it's freezing in here. Computer, raise ambient temperature ten degrees."
She walked out into the common room and opened the door that connected Vaako's rooms to Riddick's. "He's not here either." She looked at her door wondering if from some reason Vaako had gone in there with the hounds. As she opened the door, they bounded thru. Rage headed toward Riddick who had joined her in the room. Fury circled her as she continued her search for Vaako.
Neither noticed that one of the younger males was growling softly as he sat by the entrance door. It was only when he actually made a snap at his brother that they looked over. He seemed to be looking at them in distress.
Faith stepped over and knelt beside him. He was actually quivering with the need to get out; Faith could feel it as she placed a hand on his head. She turned confused eyes to Riddick. "What the hell, Rid? What's wrong with him?"
Riddick shrugged his shoulders in an apparent lack of concern. But he had a bad feeling. "Don't know. Open the door I guess and follow him."
Faith nodded absently. "Think he knows something we don't?" Her hand had not stopped its repetitive stroking.
"No idea, but. . ." Riddick eyed the empty rooms again before heading into Vaako's. He returned with a padd and handed it to Faith. "Says he went to oversee the troops for inspection."
"How the hell did you know to look for this?" Faith raised an eyebrow.
"Cy always leaves me a note. After the first time he disappeared and I nearly tore the ship apart looking for him." Riddick smirked self deprecatingly.
Faith chuckled. "Afraid he had left you, Oh Lord Marshal?" Her amusement ended when Riddick solemnly shook his head.
"No, I was afraid that his scheming bitch of a wife had killed him." Riddick couldn't quite disguise the fear he had felt from back then. He had been so sure that his best friend was dead and gone.
"When he returned from one of the other ships that he had been overseeing, I nearly killed him myself. Since then he leaves a note."
Faith snorted. "Feel him in your head, too?" She had meant it to be a joke but at Riddick's sudden start she froze.
"Damn it. Is that what that is?" Riddick looked bewildered. When he turned to her in complete seriousness she wondered how he had not understood. Then again, she had understood only because it resembled her connection to Buffy.
"I got one too. V, B and you Rid." Faith replied.
Riddick's eyes glowed unnaturally for a second. "Cool."
They were brought back to awareness when the young cub growled again. This time he paced in front of it, pawing it on every other pass.
"Well little one. . .Should name you I guess. Faith?" Riddick paused.
Faith tilted her head in thought and shrugged her shoulders. "I once lived with a guy who loved Greek mythology. Hmm, how about Ares?" She turned to the other young male and pointed. "That one can be Hades."
Riddick's inquiring look brought forth her explanations. "Ares, God of War. Hades, God of the Underworld."
Riddick nodded with a smile. "Fits." He was about to continue when the comm beeped loudly. He walked over to the console and touched the screen. "Toal. You and Cy got everything done?"
Toal looked to his Lord Marshal in concern. "Lord Marshal, Lord Vaako never arrived this morning." He fought to keep his composure when Riddick's face went blank. He was relieved that he thought to comm the Lord Marshal instead of wasting time walking all the way to the upper part of the ship.
Faith stilled as she heard Toal's response. Without another word, she opened the door and let Ares go. She didn't even bother getting dressed as she raced after him.
Riddick heard her go as he looked to Toal. "Why did you only inform me now, Commander?"
Toal swallowed thickly and shook his head. "Forgive me Lord Marshal. After the events of yesterday, I assumed Lord Vaako was not coming. I only commed you when I did not receive an answer from his rooms or personal comm."
Riddick fought his anger. He himself had assumed Vaako would be exhausted and skip his normal routines as well. "Alright, Toal. I thought he'd skip it too." He closed his eyes and fought back the emotions that were threatening to overtake him. "Send the Elite, Toal. Search the ship for him. I'll contact Aereon." Toal merely nodded and signed off.
Riddick paused long enough to grab a shirt and with inhuman speed tore out the door. As he did he snarled a command to the hounds. "Find Vaako." He didn't need to turn back to know they had obeyed and were spreading throughout the corridors in search of the missing member of the pack.
Meanwhile, Faith was racing toward the barracks. She could see that Ares was scenting the air as he ran. His growl intensified as he barreled through a couple of techs that couldn't move out of the way fast enough. Faith didn't bother to make apologies, her fear for Vaako too great. She stuttered in her steps as Ares came to a dead halt. He whined as he looked towards her, pacing in front of the main door to where the soldiers still awake would have been gathered.
As she took deep breaths to calm herself, Toal and about 12 men came rushing out. He stopped upon seeing her and the hound that was still pacing.
"Lady Faith?" Toal was confused as to her presence. He was careful to keep himself away from the anxious hound.
Faith shook her head. "Don't know. Hound was going crazy. Scented Vaako to here and then stopped." But as she spoke the hound lifted his head and howled. His eyes glowed and he took off again. Faith shouted behind her as she followed. "Riddick is right behind me. Let him know which way we went."
Toal nodded as he motioned to a few of the men to follow her. "Follow Lady Faith. The hound seems to know something. The rest of you spread out and search the lower levels. As each one is cleared, let me know."
The men had just left when Riddick came around the corner. He stopped to speak with Toal. "Faith?"
Toal pointed in the direction that Faith and the hound had taken. "Lady Aereon?"
Riddick nodded. "She is taking care of something, wants you to help her with it." Aereon had been secretive about something and said she would explain later. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like what she was going to say but right now he just had to find Vaako.
His Furian speed aided him in catching up to Faith. The hound was still scenting the air but seemed to have a good beat as to where Vaako had gone. Minutes flew by as they kept pace with the still anxious animal.
Both Faith and Riddick were very surprised when Ares came to an abrupt halt in front of the doors that led to the quasi grotto. The look they shared was one of confusion. Had the hound lead them here because of Vaako's residual scent from yesterday? Riddick stepped forward expecting the door to hiss open. His eyes narrowed in disbelief when the door remained shut. He reached to his right and placed his hand on the scanner beside the door. As Lord Marshal there was not a door on the Basilica that remained locked for him. He swore as a series of beeps sounded.
"What's going on Riddick?" Faith knew that whatever was going on was bad. V was missing. The grotto was locked.
Riddick took his hand off the scanner plate, wiped it on his pants and tried again. Still, the beeps sounded and Riddick slammed his other fist against the door. He stepped back, preparing to start kicking the door down if need be.
Faith moved beside him. The door wouldn't stand a chance against the both of them. Riddick nodded and they moved as one. Their combined strength buckled the door in the middle. Faith held up her hand in a stopping motion and moved to peer thru the slight crack where the doors joined. There was no light, only pitch black beyond. She shook her head and tilted her head to her companion. Again they moved as one and with worry fueling them, the door could take no more. The locks holding it in place within the walls bent and twisted under their strength. Each half was released and driven inwards, buckling and twisting as they crashed to the floor.
Riddick moved inside quickly. His eyes shining in the dark, searching for his First. Faith stayed by the door. Slayer senses told her that there were other beings in the room. As her eyes adjusted once again to the darkness, she could see the holdings had slid outwards at some point before their arrival. The circle in the middle where she had sat not too long ago had an occupant and as she moved forwards, Riddick grabbed her hand.
"Something's wrong, Faith. He's. . .he's vibrating. So fast. I could hardly tell but. . .I'm afraid to touch him." Riddick couldn't hide the trepidation that shook his voice. Pain, blood, death even. These things he could handle. But when it came to the unknown affecting his family, it triggered a response from his sub-conscious that he had trouble controlling. Faith seemed to understand and she just grabbed on to his arm as they watched, knowing there was nothing they could do.