I'm replacing Vacca with Vaako, as I've been informed of the correct spelling. TY!

Typo passed=past has been replaced, nice catch! (my 'beta reader', a.k.a. daughter, was at karate) :D

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Lord Vaako

She thought she might be embarrassed afterwards when the immediacy of the moment wore off. But she felt good, quite happy even. She stroked the arm he had thrown across her and whispered, "Thank you."

Riddick opened one eye and looked at her, she had thought he was asleep. "You're welcome," he said quietly.

Zemma scooted closer and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I have to go."

Now he opened both eyes but didn't say anything.

"Go to sleep," she told him as she stroked his face. "I slept all day."

He reached up and grabbed her hand for a moment but let her pull away without a word.

Zemma found she had too much energy all of the sudden. She didn't know what she was going to do with herself but she did know she needed another bath; Nor was sniffing at her. Then food, she was incredibly hungry. Then…

I want to learn to fly.

I am flying.

Then she should go find out what Lord Vaako knew about the Witch, Aereon. Zemma always assumed Aereon was in league with the Elemental Lord Marshal somehow. Why else would he let her come and go? Why else would she be so interested in Furians and Riddick in particular?

Zemma bathed and dressed and braided her hair. Ship time was only just past late dinner for most Lords. Zemma signaled a voice com request for Lord Vaako. She was surprised when he picked up so quickly.

"Yes, my Lord Marshal?"

Oh, yeah, oops.

"Lord Vaako, this is," she paused; he wouldn't know who Zemma was. She took a deep breath and started over. "This is MinFerrin. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to visit you, Sir? If you will indulge me, I'd like to ask you a few questions about today." Her voice sounded strange to her. She hadn't spoken to Lord Vaako as herself before. She felt the need to be very formal.

There was a pause. "MinFerrin?" He sounded dubious. He'd heard the rumors, most certainly had spoken to the traitorous W'Rdah. But he hadn't seen her silver blue eyes himself.

Zemma signaled the video and composed her face. She didn't twitch up her lenses. She waited a moment while he decided, then saw the video link come on.

"My Lord, I am the one you knew as MinFerrin." She nodded her head but did not look down. She would be respectful but she would never again be 'MinFerrin'.

"I see," he still sounded undecided. "Yes, I think it is time I met you." Then more in command of himself, "Should I send a guard to accompany you?"

"No, thank you, Sir. I have my own."

He raised an eyebrow at this but she figured he still had one more shock when he saw Nor.

"I'll be right there." Food could wait. She signed off.

"C'mon Nor, you need to meet another member of the inner cabal." Zemma patted her thigh and Nor followed willingly.

There were two new guards outside Riddick's quarters. Men she didn't know by sight. Perhaps some of the four captains, no, new commanders, men. They didn't spare her a glance, keeping a wary eye instead on the armored cat that was keeping an eye on them. There were other stares as she made her way to Vaako's apartment. Some were fearful, some hateful, all looked away quickly.

Two guards at the Vaako suite were new as well, and also men she did not recognize. But these nodded to her as they signaled the door com. It opened immediately, she was expected. Nor followed Zemma in and they paused at the threshold. She was seeing this place from a new perspective.

Lord Vaako was alone, in the middle of his sitting room, drink in hand and looking at her expectantly. He did not come forward and greet her as an equal but Zemma was undaunted. She figured Nor had more to do with that than impropriety.

"Nor, lay down," she commanded and used a hand signal as well. Then she went to greet her host, mental armor intact and face composed. She put out her hand.

"Lord Vaako," she began. This was going to be difficult to explain in one introduction. "I am Zemma Enan W'neta, formerly known to you as MinFerrin." She tried to keep the apology from her voice, for years of deceit. He was, after all, an honorable man she decided. He reached for her hand slowly, studying her face.

What is he seeing there for the first time?

Somebody new; a very newly mature woman.

That thought made her want to blush and she wasn't sure she could control it. She looked away. "May I sit down?"

That broke his silence and his stare. "Yes, yes, sit. I have questions, and you have some for me. Would you like a drink?"

No!

"No, thank you." Zemma sat opposite him as he more or less collapsed into his chair. Hadn't slept all day, she thought.

Looks very handsome when he's haggard.

Don't. Even. Start.

Zemma suppressed a secret smile. "I realize I must come as quite a shock to you." He was still rather intently studying her face.

"Are you," he began, "Are you the same person…?" His eyes narrowed as if trying to lay the mental image of MinFerrin, addled child in a woman's body, over the top of the image that sat before him to see if they compared.

The new woman in a woman's body.

Damn it. Stop that, just focus. Please.

Zemma bit her tongue, then still strangely formal; "I am the actual daughter of the Purifier, Enan W'neta, known to you as Lord Ferrin. I have been hiding in plain sight by deception until such time as…"

"Captain W'Rdah," he also pronounced it badly, "said as much. But I didn't believe it. Couldn't, until I saw it with my own eyes…"

Zemma felt a little nervous. He was certainly shocked but was it disbelief or had the Captain tapped into this man's theology? Would he now see her as an abomination and a blasphemer? Nor was just twenty feet behind her; he didn't appear to be wearing a weapon…

He stopped staring at her and looked to his drink instead. "It's interesting that you picked Zemma to call yourself." He took the last swallow and stood, turning to the room's bar to get a refill.

"My mother's name was Zemma," he said.