Note: Just a reminder that Riddick is the property of CHIKARAfiction, and that Kazehana23 and I are rebooting this series, so check out the Indiegogo link on my FF profile! We're doing it whether we're funded or not, it'll just take a lot longer if we can't get funds for the initial equipment.

…

The hospital was crammed to capacity and overflowing by the time Riddick finally arrived. In fact, three separate buildings were being converted to hospitals to house the overflow of injured, crushed Irkens even as one hastily assembled crew collected and disposed of the fatalities.

Riddick entered one of the buildings, drawn past the bustling medics and injured moans to a familiar flicker of energy. It was weary, and still unconscious, but undeniably Zim.

Stepping through a set of doors, he fixed his hat idly. "I should make a note, perhaps, to try and evacuate an area more thoroughly the next time we fight a giant monster."

Dib snorted slightly as he continued his pacing. He strode back and forth between two beds. One housed an unconscious, small green lump. Mikko sat at the edge of that bed, holding a three-clawed hand, a slightly lost expression on her face. The other bed cradled a human woman with long purple hair, also unconscious and hooked to life support. Red was also there, hooked to IVs and wires, but seemed to have refused a bed, preferring to sit by Gloria's side. He had fallen forward in his sleep, sprawled over onto the edge of Gloria's bed. A dark shadow rested around Gloria's shoulders, tiny tendrils working through her hair in an unending, anxious pleading to wake up.

"The mood seems to be quite somber, eh?" He glanced around the room. "Still out cold, all of them. Can't blame them, I thought I went through a tornado today. I feel like I got off easy compared to them."

"Yeah," Dib agreed, "Still out cold, can you get these off me and Mikko?" He flourished his wrists, caught in thick manacles and chains. "They wouldn't let us humans in without ensuring we were prisoners. Not that I blame them," he said wryly, "I've done the same."

Rolling his eyes, Riddick sliced through Dib and Mikko's manacles like butter with red energy. "They haven't been rightly informed yet, that's papi's job. But he's still out cold… haven't even told him the news about me yet, don't know if I want to when he wakes up. He may just pass out again."

Red snapped to full attention, staring around in a daze for a moment. He caught sight of Riddick and yanked out a laser, aiming and priming it in half a second. A shadow ran up and along his arm, freezing him. He let his eyes slide from Riddick to Gaz, and back to Riddick. His voice was tight, anger and fear warring in his tone. "For some reason, my warden would prefer I not kill you where you stand… though why I can't begin to understand after what you did." His mind fixed firmly on the last image he'd seen of Riddick—pointing dozens of red weapons conjured out of nowhere at Gloria.

Riddick arched an eyeridge. "You want the full story then? I think you'll change your tone."

"You'll need this for dramatic effect." A playful voice noted as a red cloak settled around his shoulders. Blinking, Riddick turned his head to see who gave him the cloak. He knew who it was, but the tone was definitely different.

Blossom hovered behind him, having finally gotten the chance to clean up. She'd found some drone's discarded uniform, but it was too small. She shifted, tugging at the fabric. "Are most Irkens really short?"

"Yes, they are. You look nice, though. All cleaned up and… such." He glanced away, his cheeks a darker green.

"Didn't they cuff you?" Dib asked the Puff.

"They tried. They gave up when I kept breaking the chains." Blossom shrugged.

"Is anybody going to explain why we're all so calm about the bounty hunter that was trying to kill my co-ruler?" Red asked, his voice brittle.

"Yes, fine, of course." Riddick settled into storytelling mode. "It all started when I found Gloria again…"

…

"…So there it is, Danem. Or perhaps Daddy? Papa? I'm new at this, whichever you prefer." Riddick brushed his shoulders off.

Red's first reaction was to whip his head around the room, scanning the cameras in the corners.

"Already taken care of." Gaz projected tiredly. "They can't hear anything."

Red slowly brought his head back around and stared at Riddick. Something in his mind clicked as he spoke, "There were… two… that went through the Time Object Displacement Device."

"Yep, and lucky us, we made it. One's currently unconscious over there, one's here staring at you. I think I got your eyes, they've got that sharpness that mine do." He preened slightly. "Commanding."

Gaz muttered, "You've got Red's ego for sure."

Gloria shifted slightly, but Red's attention was still on Riddick. "You can't speak of this outside of this room. I'll tell you the same thing I told Zim. You cannot speak of this connection…" he relented slightly, "At least not anywhere that has not been secured."

"Not until you start getting rid of the laws HE put into motion. I don't expect something like this to be taken to immediately, but you deserve to be proud of your own children and what they've accomplished. At least…" he looked down. "I hope you're proud. Did my best I suppose."

Red's eyes never left Riddick. "I am proud. I'm very proud of both of you. But centuries of laws can't be undone in days. It may take years, even decades, before some of the damage is undone. And I need help." He rubbed his eyes, fatigued. "I've lived in it for so long, I can't even see some of the things that are wrong, and I don't know how to tell anymore."

A hand rested on his arm, squeezing gently. He turned to see Gloria looking at him, eyes wide open.

"Something tells me I'll have help though." He managed, thickly.

Riddick nodded. "I don't think you could have a better partner. I may be biased though, something tells me I'm a Momma's boy."

Gloria gave the shadow at her shoulders a gentle nuzzle as it cradled her head. She reached over to Dib, who hurried to her side and took her hand. She held it, looking up at him in concern.

Dib shook his head. "No, Mom. I'm me. I'm really really sorry."

She squeezed his hand, then turned and reached a hand out to Riddick.

Taking it gently, Rididck said, "What you did, Maneem, was truly amazing. You helped us bring down HIM. I was proud to call you my mother before, of course. But I now believe that I have the best one in the world." He nodded to himself. "I'm definitely a Momma's boy."

Gloria tried to speak, but the mask blocked her. After checking the machinery very carefully, Red determined her stable. He removed the mask gently as she coughed. She looked up, her eyes shining. "So proud of you. Both of you." Her eyes flickered with concern. "Where is…?"

"Zim's still taking a nap over there." He indicated the other bed. "He went through quite a lot, but he gave us the true key to bring down that monster."

"The key…" Gloria's eyes widened as she remembered her own encounters, and turned to Red. "Red, the other Tallests?! It all went dark—"

Red stroked her hand gently. "You vanished from the hall, and they started to panic because they didn't know who would forgive them. But you started it, Gloria. They were the leaders of Irk throughout history, they were smart. They realized the only person left who could forgive them was themselves, and most of them did so."

"All the orbs, all glowing," Dib recalled with a murmur.

"There are a few left alive, my four predecessors are in critical condition. Their bodies hadn't expired yet. We may lose a couple, but we will have a council of Tallests once they've healed."

Riddick turned toward Zim's bed, where Mikko sat. She hadn't moved or looked elsewhere even once. He started toward Zim.

"Riddick," Gaz murmured into his mind, "Just… brace yourself."

"He's unconscious but he's alive." Riddick shrugged off her concern. He walked over, putting a hand on Mikko's shoulder. "Hey, he'll be alright. I know it sounds silly, but I feel like I know Zim better than almost everyone—considering how short a time we've really known each other. Call it brotherly… instinct…"

He took in Zim's state. Zim's face was different, in a way few Irken faces got to be. His cheeks sagged, and the area around his eyes wrinkled deeply. His antennae were no longer the rick black of a young Irken. The color had leached out to a deep gray, like the black had faded. He was, if possible, even smaller than before. Even the skin on his arms hung, sagging.

Riddick's hand stayed on Mikko's shoulder, and Mikko did not move.