Then I got on a plane and flew
Far away from you
Though unwillingly I left
And it was so, so hard to do.
Chapter 14
Riddick took Carolyn by the arm ushering her throughout the corridors of the Basilica. They were only a few hours away from reaching the Underverse and he was finally ready to put his plan into action. Had he begun any earlier there may have been a chance of discovery. As it was the entire ship almost vibrated with the emotions of the Necromongers on board. The Purifiers had been supervising round the clock sermons for the last week.
Carolyn was practically running to keep up with Riddick as he kept a firm grasp on her arm. "Where are we going, Riddick? Where's Collin?" becoming frantic the longer he remained silent. When she tripped on her dress almost falling he finally slowed, backing her into a doorway looking up and down the hall to make sure they were alone.
Pressing flush against her, Riddick ran a nose up her cheek taking in her scent. "It's time to go."
"Go? Go where?" Carolyn asked her eyes dancing back and forth across his face as he pulled back.
"We're getting off this ship and we don't have much time."
"Where's Collin?"
"He's already on board. We have to go, now."
Nodding her head, Carolyn gathered up her dress and did her best to keep up with him as he took her to where the Frigates were docked. Riddick punched in a code on the wall opening the pressure doors guiding Carolyn on board as Vaako met them near a section of filled cryo-stasis tubes which lined the walls. There were two lying horizontally in the center of the space, one of which was already occupied by their sleeping son. Carolyn rushed to the tube looking over the equipment.
"He's alright?" She asked looking over at Riddick and Vaako who stood waiting by the empty one.
"He's fine, Carolyn. I put him under myself."
Laying her hand on top of it, Carolyn leaned over to kiss the glass. "I love you Collin Alexander." She whispered.
"Carolyn," Riddick said holding out his hand to her.
"What about you?" She asked.
"Vaako, Toal and I need to finish up and get launched."
"Vaako and Toal?" Carolyn questioned.
"We've decided to join you as well as some of the others," Vaako replied motioning to the filled chambers.
"But where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe. Now let's get you set up." Riddick said.
"The baby?"
"Will be fine," Riddick assured her helping her up and into the tube before assisting Vaako in hooking her up to the system."
"I'll see you soon," he said leaning down to kiss her.
Carolyn cupped his cheek, "I love you, Richard."
Riddick placed her hand upon her stomach as he closed the chamber initiating the Cryo process, staying until she was asleep.
Vaako walked him to the pressure doors. "I'm counting on you to get my family safely away from here."
"You know I will," Vaako replied grasping Riddick's forearm.
With a brief look at the chambers holding his family, Riddick turned on his heel heading back into the belly of the beast.
Vaako strapped himself in next to Toal going over the final flight checklist before releasing the docking clamps from the Basilica slowly maneuvering away from the larger ship.
As soon as they had released, the Basilica's speed rapidly increased as it approached the opening in space to the Underverse.
"I always knew he was insane," Vaako muttered increasing their own speed to maximize their distance from the larger ship. Twisting the controls Toal pointed the lensing equipment towards the fleet so that they were able to watch its progress as it entered the black hole. .
"Hang on!" Vaako said through gritted teeth as they watched a shockwave coming toward them. Catching the frigate with its furthest reach the shockwave sent the vessel careening out of control as Vaako and Toal struggled with the ship, finally escaping its clutches.
Exchanging a look, they turned back to the lensing equipment. Where once there was an Armada, there was now nothing. Not even the black hole that had indicated the Underverse's presence.
"Scan the area for signs of life or any other ships," Vaako instructed his gaze glued to the scene.
After a moment Toal replied, "There's nothing. What are your orders?"
"The same as they were an hour ago."
Lapsing into silence the two men finished their preparations, ending with Vaako assisting Toal into one of the remaining chambers. Preparing his own he stopped for a moment to look over at Carolyn and Collin, dreading the moment he would have to tell them what had happened. Entering the command Cryo chamber, Vaako entered in the commands on the control panel, shutting the door. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
"What is it?" Aereon asked as she hurriedly entered the building having been summoned in the middle of the night.
"A lone ship, Madam Councilwoman."
"And you felt it was necessary to notify me why?"
"It's a Necromonger frigate class vessel, Madam. I thought you'd like to know immediately."
"Put it on the screen," she directed with a wave of her hand waiting patiently as the guardian did as she asked.
Aereon circled the room watching the image. "Any life signs?"
"Yes. Nineteen bio-signs all appear to be in cryo-stasis. Seventeen Necromongers, one gestating Human female, and one male, half Human, half Furyan." The Guardian said quizzically.
"Riddick," Aereon breathed. "Are there any signs of why they're not coming out of stasis?"
"It appears as though the craft has had some damage. If any of the systems were affected that may be causing a delay."
"Are you able to remote into the computer and guide it down."
"Yes, Madam."
"Do it and contact the High Caste. Tell them to meet me at the landing pad."
"Yes. Madam," The Guardian replied once again, already attending to his tasks.
Making her way outside, Aereon waited patiently, her semi-transparent form blowing softly in the breeze. It wasn't long before the dozen members of the High Caste along with several of their guards arrived in a large transport.
A tall female emerged making her way over to the Elemental.
"Aereon."
"Shirah."
"You sent for us?"
"Yes, I thought this might be of interest to you."
Shirah raised her eyebrows at the woman but held her tongue until she saw the ship coming in for a landing. "That's a Necro ship, Elemental."
"Yes, it is, isn't it." She replied.
Once the ship was powered down, Aereon communicated with the Guardian. "Please lower the ramp," she instructed.
"Let us go first." The woman beside her said.
"No. They won't hurt me. I'll lead."
Shirah gave a slight nod of her head and waved her by, falling in behind her with the rest of her group.
Stepping into the Cryo room, Aereon let out a slight gasp as Vaako was trying to stay on his feet, the gravity gun in his hand pointed in their direction.
"Aereon?" He asked blinking his eyes running a hand over them.
"Yes, Commander, It is I."
Breathing heavily, Vaako lowered the gun. "He sent us," he managed to get out before collapsing in a heap at the end of two cryo-tubes lying in the middle of the room.
"Help him," Aereon told the group of people who were in the room with her, "and start bringing these people out of stasis." She contacted the Guardian asking him to set up a bay in the medical wing for their visitors as they were possibly suffering some type of Cryo sickness.
Moving to stand by Shirah who was opening the boys tube she heard her intake of breath as she touched him. "What is it?"
"He's Furyan!" She said jerking her hand away as if it were on fire.
"Yes, he is isn't he?" Aereon responded with a smirk moving over to look at the female whose tube had just been opened. "Mother and son?" She asked.
Shirah followed her touching the woman's chest, her eyes meeting Aereon's. She's not Furyan, but she's carrying one."
"How very interesting, don't you think?"
Removing Carolyn and Collin from the ship last, they transported all nineteen to the hospital separating them from everyone else in the building.
Standing back as the finest Elemental doctors converged on their newest patients, Shirah turned to Aereon. "Our doctor will consult with yours on the boy and woman. Contact me immediately if there's any change."
Aereon simply tilted her head in response.