Chapter 16

Riddick nodded to Vaako as he exited the building, and they started the walk back to the ship in silence. Once outside the main streets of the city, Vaako turned to Riddick.

"Should we leave a detail on the outskirts—"

"No," Riddick interrupted quickly. ""No one stays behind."

"For protection—"

"I said no," Riddick barked. Vaako sighed.

"With all due respect, sir, she knows things that could destroy us." Riddick stopped walking, Vaako stopping as well after he realized Riddick wasn't next to him any more.

"And what the fuck makes you think she'd want to talk about it in the first place?" Vaako blinked. "Her life was hell on that ship, and I brought her here so she could move on and forget it." Vaako took a breath, but Riddick continued: "She's not gonna squeal, no one's staying behind, and that's final. Got it?" Vaako nodded quickly, falling into step next to Riddick as they continued the rest of the way in silence. Before entering the ship, Riddick paused, twisting a hand in the front of Vaako's shirt and slamming him against the hull of the ship. "If I even so much as get a feeling someone's out looking for her or that someone stayed behind, I'll kill you." Vaako's eyebrows rose. "And that's a fucking promise," Riddick growled.

"I understand, sir," Vaako said, his voice much stronger than either man expected. Riddick held him there for a moment before slamming him against the metal again with a growl and boarding the ship, going straight to his suite.

Riddick paced the room, rubbing his forehead, scratching his neck, every nervous habit known to man. He sighed, once again pausing to stare at the comm unit. Finally, he plopped down in front of his computer and began memorizing the layout of the ship. After several hours of staring at a monitor and rubbing his eyes, he did a quick search and stood, stretching before leaving his room.

Frustration melted away with each punch and kick he landed on the punching bag, the room growing humid and hot the harder he worked, sweat rolling down his skin as his brows furled in concentration. He started a list of things he needed to do to prep for his escape, and how to go about it without drawing attention. Slowly, he started to realize this place was reminding him more and more of slam. With a growl, he landed a final punch, pulling a bolt from the ceiling to leave the bag dangling cockeyed. He snorted in amusement and left the room.

After grabbing a quick shower, he summoned for Daniel, the tech. Daniel was off duty, so Riddick had to wait until the morning. Fuck. He sighed. What, the Lord Marshall doesn't have the authority to wake someone up? he thought with an aggravated snicker.

Riddick woke to a timid knock at his door. He growled and stood, pulling half the sheets off the bed with him. Daniel started as Riddick wrenched the door open, peering down at the young tech with a menacing scowl.

"Come on in," Riddick gruffed, nodding for the boy to enter while he scanned the hallway for tails. None. Good. He shut the door and returned to the bed, flopping under the sheets.

"Um, you called for me, sir?"

"I need your help," Riddick mumbled. Daniel's eyes widened. "I need you to draw up a map of the ventilation system and a schedule for the main kitchen and the port." Daniel nodded. "And when I mean schedule, I mean an average of second by second activity, understand?"

"Yes, sir," he said, still nodding quickly. "Anything else sir?"

"Yeah. Don't get caught," Riddick ordered. Daniel visibly swallowed. "I mean it, kid. I can't take you with me, so no one can know you're involved."

"How many days do you want me to average the times?"

"Four. And I want each day's detail and the averages." Daniel nodded.

"Is that it? Just the map and the schedules?" Riddick paused, thinking.

"Actually, yeah," he said after a moment. "Can you find out what kind of equipment is in the port, what's tricked out with what, and whether there are any security systems?"

"Can do, sir."

"Actually, thinking about it now, add in the security systems to the ventilation system map."

"From here to the port, sir?" Daniel asked.

"No. I want the whole ship," Riddick said, shaking his head slightly.

"That'll take some time, sir."

"That's fine. I want it accurate, so as long as it takes." Daniel nodded. "That's it. You keep me posted. And keep your eyes and ears open. I want to know everything that's going on." Another nod from Daniel and Riddick was alone.

Sevic stared out the front window, glancing every now and then back to Doc's hands flying over the controls as they neared Telvar's outer atmosphere. The ride got bumpy, just as Doc had warned, and they finally broke through into space, stars floating by quickly as Doc pushed the engines forward at top speed.

"So, um," Sevic started, glancing at Doc. "How long is the trip?"

"Well, if we've got the potential for tails, we don't want a track so we can't starjump. It'll be about three days, and then we've got a walk." Her eyebrow rose.

"How long is the walk?"

"A day or so," he answered.

"Not too bad," she said with a nod.

"So where'd you say you were from again?" Doc asked. Great, Sevic thought. Here we go with the small talk again.

"Seleron." Doc nodded.

"That's how you got mixed up with the Necros," he deduced. She didn't want to talk about that, so she didn't, only nodded. "You know what Rick's up to?"

"I don't have a clue," she said slowly. "And that's what scares me." Doc nodded.

"He's a good kid, all things considered." She smiled. "He makes a promise, he's good for it. Hardly ever makes them, for that reason." She cringed, thinking back to Kyra. He'd said something once about having let her down, but she'd never pried out of him what his promise to her was.

"How do you know Riddick?" Sevic asked, eager to steer the conversation in another direction.

"Army of the Interplanetary Council," he said with a grim frown. Sevic's eyebrow rose. Oh yeah. Used to be military. "He was a young one serving under me for a few years. Turned out he had more potential than they thought, so they moved him to Black Ops." She glanced at him sharply. "Shit hit the fan, and they needed someone to blame, so they picked him."

"The shit hit the fan how?"

"Operation gone south is all I know. He was the only one that made it out, so they turned it to make it look like he'd done all the killing. Sent him away. He broke out, and had to kill to survive, you know." The way Doc was telling it made Riddick sound like the whole universe was out to get him. "Got to one of the planets not part of the Council, thinking he'd be safe for a while, but they tracked him down." He grimaced. "Put me on that detail, too. Cut me to the core, but he understood." Sevic nodded. "Broke out again, and then the mercs were called in. Been runnin' ever since." The ship fell silent, and Sevic found herself drifting. "Get some sleep," Doc said, smiling as Sevic started. "There's a bunk in the belly if you want some dark." She nodded, patting his shoulder as she stood and left for the lower story of the small ship.

It'd been five days and Riddick hadn't heard from Daniel yet. And damn it to hell, it was Sunday again. He ruffled through the closet for something clean to wear to dinner, wishing he could get out of it. The call came, and he headed downstairs, Vaako sitting at his left, and the chair to his right empty. He glanced at it now and then, envisioning Sevic sitting there in that dress, with that knife strapped to her thigh. Train of thought, Dicky, he scolded. Keep it together. The conversation was boring, as usual, especially without the entertainment of the former Dame Vaako picking at everyone around her. Vaako glanced at the empty seat next to him from time to time as well, and Riddick caught his eye.

"Sucks, don't it?" he said gruffly. Vaako nodded, staring at the hunk of steak speared on his fork. "Anyone new caught your eye yet?" Vaako shook his head. "Don't worry. They're not all they're cracked up to be."

"It's disgraceful for me to be sitting here without…" Vaako trailed off with a sigh.

"What, a woman at your side?" Riddick snickered. "Women are evil, Vaako. Remember that. Better off lookin' out for number one." Vaako nodded, his jaw set. "But it doesn't mean you can't play." Vaako glanced up at Riddick, noting the sly grin before a piece of steak was shoveled in.

"You want to know something?" Vaako asked, his voice suddenly quiet. Riddick arched a brow. "I've thought about summoning her from the hallway. Just to see her again."

"You loved her, didn't you." More assumption than question. Vaako sighed.

"I don't know. You're right, she was evil and conniving and everything dishonorable." Riddick stifled a laugh. Yup. That about sums it up. "But she was beautiful, and…"

"And a good lay, right?" Riddick finished. Vaako smiled, turning it into a grin in response to Riddick's grin. "That's all they're good for, man." He dropped his fork and leaned back in his chair, scratching his pleasingly full belly. "But hey, if you get lonely after dinner and don't want to spend the rest of the night not dancing like everyone else, just ask, man," Riddick snickered. Vaako looked shocked for a moment until he realized Riddick was joking, and then smiled himself. "You need to loosen up." At that moment, the sirens decided to go off. "What the fuck?"

"Attack, sir," Vaako said, standing. "The armada's been engaged."

"Oh, Christ," Riddick groaned. I do not need this right now. "This ship?"

"No, sir. We're in the middle of the force." Riddick nodded, following Vaako to the command center.

"Lord Vaako, Lord Marshall," a Commander said, standing and nodding at them as they entered.

"Details, Lord Toll. What's happened?" Vaako asked, walking to the radar.

"Renegade forces, sir. They're attacking from behind. Two rear ships have been heavily damaged sir."

"Do we have fighters ready?" Riddick asked.

"Yes, sir. On standby," Toll answered.

"Get them out," Riddick ordered. Toll nodded, and he and Vaako went to work calling up the scramble. The vid screen crackled, and all heads turned toward it.

"Dispatch, sir."

"From?"

"Attackers, sir." Riddick nodded.

"Necros," came a voice, a face appearing seconds later.

"Can they see us or just hear us?" Riddick whispered to a nearby Commander.

"Both, sir." Riddick nodded, jaw clenched.

"Vaako," Riddick called, watching Vaako turn. "Do the talking."

"Sir."

"God, I hate Necros," the renegade continued. "I heard a nasty rumor you all decided to make yourselves at home on Kalais. Blew the place up. Just happened to be my home planet, fuckers."

"Can we negotiate?" Toll asked. Riddick nodded to Vaako.

"Previous missions have been aborted. Planet destruction has ceased," Vaako informed the renegade. Could he get that stick any further up his ass? Riddick thought.

"What's your point?" the renegade asked with a smirk. Vaako looked to Riddick, who only raised his brows. Vaako swallowed and turned back to the monitor.

"We've abandoned our destructive stereotype. We don't wish to engage you."

"I blew up one of your ships, shithead." Riddick choked back a snicker. "You sure about that?"

"We'd like to negotiate," Vaako said firmly. The renegade seemed to mull that over for a moment.

"Fine. Light up your flagship and we'll join up with you. Bring your leader and three of your men on board."

"Done," Vaako said, sighing as the screen went blank. "Riddick—"

"I know him. It's fine. Kiril, Toll, and Yuri. You three come with me." Vaako's brows arched, but he didn't contradict. "Vaako, I need you here in case something goes wrong." Vaako nodded. "Don't expect it will, but just in case," Riddick added. After convincing the Commanders he really didn't need armor, Riddick, Kiril, Toll, and Yuri boarded the renegade ship, Riddick directing the other three not to speak or move unless he said to.

"Richard B. Riddick. You've got to be shittin' me."

"What's up, Andrew?" Riddick asked, holding out his hand. Andrew just looked at him.

"Wanna tell me what the hell's goin' on?" he demanded, glancing at the two obviously Necro soldiers standing behind Riddick. Riddick followed his gaze and shrugged.

"Stroke of shitty luck," he answered with a shrug. "How 'bout you bring your men –" he glanced around, "and woman onboard my ship and get something to eat. We were just in the middle of dinner when you stopped in." Andrew glanced at his crew, who stared back at him incredulously.

"And what makes you think I trust you?" Andrew asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Riddick chuckled.

"The fact that I saved your ass in slam and let you come along when I broke out," he drawled, still grinning. "C'mon, Drew. You know me."

"And I know Necros, too," Andrew retorted, eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, well." Riddick shrugged. "They're under my command. You're safe as long as you stay on my good side." Andrew eyed him for a moment. "Be just like old times."

"What's on the menu?" Andrew asked.

"Wow." Andrew gazed around Riddick's suite with wide eyes. "So how'd you pull this off?"

"Revenge killing," Riddick said with a shrug. "Their creed is 'you keep what you kill'. Their previous Lord Marshall just happened to kill a friend of mine and it pissed me off." Andrew sighed.

"Tell me it wasn't Jack." Riddick cringed. He'd forgotten he'd sent Drew a vid-message when he needed some help after dropping Jack and Imam off in New Mecca. Riddick nodded once. "Shit, man. I'm sorry." Riddick shook his head.

"He got his."

"And you got yours, evidently," Drew said, gesturing to the room.

"Wasn't worth it, man," Riddick said quietly. "Listen," he continued, turning to Drew before he could say anything more. "I need a little help."

"Sure, man."

"I can't get out of here unless someone kills me to take my place." Drew's eyebrow rose. "Now, I've got one Commander I can trust a little. If he's not up for it, he's easy enough to silence, if you catch my drift." Drew nodded. "You got squibs and shit?" A lazy, wide grin spread across Drew's face, and soon Riddick mirrored it.