Chapter three: Enter Dame Vakko

It was back on Helion Prime, it must have been. Standing in the sun didn't burn my skin, or bake me from the inside out as it would have literally done on Crematoria. A smile began to replace my usual scowl as I lifted my head toward the sky and soaked up the sunlight. I looked to my right side and found a familiar figure walking toward me. It was one of the two people I thought I would never see again.

It was Imam. He was alive. I began walking toward him almost in a jog, until darkness feel over the scene and he was gone once again from my sight. I called out to him, but no sound came forth, nothing was able to be brought forth from my mouth. I was silent when I really needed to say something. Then a strong wind blew from behind me and I was compelled to turn around. Then I wanted to scream.

There were bodies everywhere. Most of them were filling the crevices left behind from the destructive Necromonger ships. I was still on Helion Prime, but it didn't look much different from what an end of a major battle would look like. I looked to my left to see a small group of people standing by me. There were only sixteen people standing, and a baby. I know because I counted in the few seconds I had to process the group through my mind. I counted twice- who knows, maybe even three times. One of the survivors was Nick, I could tell by his messy hair and my old pair of 'Riddick goggles'. All seemed void of emotion, but when I came closer I found that all of them had tears in their eyes. Every one of the dead bodies that lay at our feet was someone I had known before. All of them were alive when I last checked. How did it happen? More importantly, when?

I looked back at the survivors and they had their heads turned to the side. I found a Necromonger lensor and its handler pushing a third figure toward a great chasm on the surface. At first I didn't know who the third figure was, but after hearing a yell from the shadow, I knew it could only be one person. One man.

Riddick was fighting as well as he could, but he glanced over the necromonger's shoulder and saw me. He was yelling at me- telling me to run. The few seconds that he used to warn me was shown as a weakness and Riddick was pushed backward… falling toward the great chasm. My hear beat in time with my feet pounding against the ground as I tried desperately to reach him. I may not be able, but I can try…I can try…

But I fail.

My screams fill the chasm where Riddick's body now undoubtedly lays.

Kyra sat up quickly in the bed, throwing off her heavy, numerous blankets and pieces of material. The cold winds of reality wrapped around her, telling her that everything she just saw was only in her most terrible nightmares. Her eyes were blinking away the tears before they froze, but it was difficult to make them stop. Her breathing was ragged and distorted as she tried to regain her normal breathing pattern. She looked at the other side of the room where Riddick was sleeping in her makeshift, crater bed. She saw the white breath clouds rise up from h is mouth as he breathed.

'He must be freezing,' Kyra grabbed at her blankets and paused for a moment, 'Damn Fry and her nobility. She just had to get to me. Couldn't let me let the bastard freeze.'

Kyra got up and dragged her blankets as she made her way to Riddick. She sat down beside him, covered both of them completely and wrapped her arms around his cold torso. She cringed by the stinging cold of his skin, but hid it well otherwise. His body started to slowly warm up, keeping her warm as well. Not to mention a little better emotionally. She wanted to make sure that he was still there. That he wasn't at the bottom of the same God forsaken pit. Slowly her mind started to drift into sleep as Riddick's body reached normal temperature.

'I can't stay mad. He saved my life so many times. I just can't help but to trust him. Even if the rest of the group may have their doubts,' Kyra thought as she fell back to sleep.

Riddick let a smile cross his lips as he felt Kyra bury her face into his upper back, 'Cute kid.'

The next morning Kyra could feel the hot, burning temperature of the day creep into her room. She squeezed her eyes a bit, hoping to get a little more sleep until the sun fully rose and heat became too unbearable to sleep. She turned over to her other side and felt something was in front of her. Not bothering to open her eyes, she hugged what she thought was a pillow or a pile of blankets and buried her face into the warm surface. Then the pillow began to hug her back and the surface began to move up and down in a breathing pattern. Her eyes popped open to meet a muscular chest covered in a black wife beater.

"Just how cold were you that you had to curl up with a murderer? Not to mention someone that you dislike at the moment," Riddick said with a bit of amusement apparent in his voice.

Kyra pushed off the crater they were sleeping in and looked down at Riddick, "I wasn't cold at all. I took pity on you."

Riddick laughed, "Me? Needing your pity?"

"You were the one freezing last night," Kyra said getting up and walking toward the other connecting room to get dressed for the day, "I couldn't let you freeze to death after you saved me that many times. Even if I was upset at you."

"Was?" Riddick pushed himself up on his elbows, looking toward Kyra's direction.

"I have always understood why you thought you needed to leave me behind, Riddick," Kyra said snapping the weapon vest around her waist and stepping into the room, "I guess I was just letting out some frustration. And as far as you being a murderer… you aren't as big of one as I am."

Riddick picked up the blankets and threw them back on the bed, "You're no murderer, kid."

"You weren't there when I killed the five men, were you?" Kyra made sure that her leather surrounding her arms were on tight enough. Her mind began to start to wonder back to when she gained the wounds, but she soon caught herself, "You want to come with me today?"

"Where?" Riddick watched as Kyra came out from the other room.

"Up top."

"I thought we would burn or explode from the inside out," Riddick put his hands on his hips, trying to look smart.

"We won't explode if we go through the tunnels and come up inside a strong hanger or rock formation," Kyra gave him a smile and watched him cock one eyebrow. Kyra put on her bag and started to walk out of the room.

Riddick followed close behind and Kyra led the way through the underground shelter. People looked just as yesterday, trying to live to the next day. Some of them, no doubt knew who he was by the looks they were giving him. He tried to keep his vision in front of him. He found Toombs leaning on one of the cavern walls watching him closely. Logan and Nick couldn't be found in the open, they must be setting up for another one of Kyra's plans. Hassan was over next to the pregnant woman Riddick spotted earlier. He was spoon feeding her something from a bowl.

"Hassan is very gifted in herbs," Kyra commented once seeing what Riddick was watching, "Sarah has been having some pains not common with pregnancy, so Hassan is trying to decipher what's wrong. I have no clue."

"How would you have any clue?"

"You didn't think that I would be on the run from blues and mercs without some kind of medical knowledge, did you?" Kyra gave him a smartass smile, "I took an identity of a missing medical student after first going on the run. That's were I met Hassan… he took on Imam's last name after he heard of his death. We kicked it off."

"So that's why you're so close to him," Riddick looked as Kyra headed toward the way they first came in.

"Yeah, too bad he isn't looking for something more than friends," Kyra looked into the door, "But after losing his intended… well, he says that there is only one love that is ever real in life. And that was his. I don't blame him. After losing someone that close to you… you never want to love like that again."

"I feel some emotional connection," Riddick growled, "Like you've been through the same thing."

"Let's not dwell on it," Kyra said coldly, "We have some food and supplies to get."

Riddick didn't argue as he placed his goggles on his head, but welcomed the pitch black darkness that was given inside the tunnels. Kyra led the way through different tunnels and passageways.

"How may I ask are we finding food on a barren rock like this?" Riddick asked from behind Kyra.

"Not finding… we're stealing it," Kyra began to walk a little faster toward the top of the tunnel, "The Necromongers actually have pretty good tastes when it comes to food. I used to steal food back on Helion Prime until I was caught."

"Just what exactly happened?"

"The planet once used to be beautiful. I was originally put in the normal slam. Bars and all. Then they came. Lord Marshal and his army took the planet over, destroying the planet and most of its population. The people who refused to be converted were thrown underground here. I was one of the first along with Toombs, Nick, Hassan, Logan and-"

"And?"

"Forget it," Kyra kept pushing up against the ceiling of the tunnel, "You may want to put your goggles on Riddick."

"Just how many people are down in the underground with us?" Riddick said complying with Kyra's request.

"Fifty," Kyra stopped and looked through the small crack that was made between the roof of the tunnel and the floor of the building they were entering, "And I'm not planning to lose any more of them."

"Why would you?" Riddick joined her and looked through the crack, lifting his goggles since there was barely any light, "From the sound of it, they don't want to be converted."

Kyra looked at him, "They try to draw us out by promising freedom… from pain and suffering. Then they forcefully covert those enticed. I've already lost ten good people that way."

"But then you come to the surface buildings by yourself," Riddick said a bit amused.

"Someone has to get the food. No one else will. Besides, I like a challenge," Kyra climbed out into the dark building with Riddick not too far behind.

"So you've pretty much had to take up the leader role, like it or not."

"Yeah, I guess you can say that," Kyra looked over at a crate at the other side of the room, "They've been in here. They've moved stuff around."

Riddick nodded and walked slowly behind her. After only ten steps Riddick felt as if there was something a little off. There was something wrong. He didn't take off his goggles completely, even though the room was pretty dark. Kyra held his arm before he took another step past her. He heard her take some sniffs of the air and felt her back up a bit. He wanted to continue forward even though the feeling became a little more intense, but her arm from behind kept him in place. Suddenly her body stiffened and she stepped next to him.

"We got to get out of here," Kyra whispered and began to back up.

"Why? Did they move something else-?"

Before another second got to seep by, blinding lights filled the room and Riddick was suddenly happy that he had kept his goggles over his eyes. He stepped in front of Kyra and tried to protect her against whatever may come from the blinding light. A few figures came out of the light and grabbed Kyra out from behind him, despite his efforts to keep her protected. She broke free of their grasps and slit the couple of throats that dared to touch her. She began to run toward a few others until Riddick got there first and caught quite a few of them off guard. More began to flood toward the two fighting figures.

"Wait!"

A female voice rang through out the building. A thin, tall woman in a long dress walked toward where Riddick and Kyra stopped their fighting, but still held stances. As some of the men were being distracted, Kyra elbowed one in the gut, releasing his grip on her shirt. Riddick smiled a little at her ferocity toward the man. The woman walked up to Riddick and looked him in the goggles. She tilted her head from side to side as if she was looking for a specific thing hidden on his face.

"You are the one who is called Riddick," the woman spoke softly and calmly and then abruptly turned to the men around them, "Punish the female, but do not convert her… yet. Let her kind find her."

"Wait a minute," Riddick stepped forward trying to stop them as they began to collapse upon Kyra.

"Riddick, you are coming with me," the woman said waving for the men to take hold of his arms.

"Dame Vakko!" Kyra started to struggle between two men, "Don't you dare convert him! I swear to you I will kill you!"

"I doubt that," she smiled as Kyra was started to be carried back.

Riddick threw off the men that had hold of him and began to charge back toward Kyra. Kyra stopped struggling with them and looked at Riddick.

"Riddick, no!" she yelled at him, "I can handle these bastards. Just don't let them take hold of your mind. I'll be fine. This punishment will be nothing."

"Kyra-"

"Don't argue, I'll be in the underground with no problem. I worry about you little more," Kyra winked at him and then was drug back into the darker portions of the building, possibly into another tunnel used by Necromonger.

Riddick turned back toward Dame Vakko and the other necromonger's, "What are they going to do to her?" Riddick asked standing between the two men who came up next to him, holding a type of gun at each side o his head. Then he finally understood why Kyra stopped struggling so much. She didn't want them to shot him.

"The usual punishment for coming up top," she smiled, "Who is she to you?"

"Why would it matter?"

"It doesn't," she turned and let the two men leave Riddick's side, "Follow me."

Riddick followed Vakko closely with two more of her soldiers following them. She led him through another tunnel. They immerged within another building, although this one was not connected to the surface of the planet like the other buildings were. Riddick could feel the change in the material underneath his boots. As they entered the grand room, the two soldiers following them stayed by the door while Dame Vakko led Riddick deeper into the strange structure.

Statues of men had the contortion of horror and pain written on their faces. They had the burden of keeping the structure level unless it would fall over the people within Necropolis. The blue hint of the walls and structures gave the whole room an eerie feeling, although Riddick could feel that before even coming into the main entrance hall.

"So what exactly is the punishment, and why is it that I am no getting it?"

"Because I need to talk to you, and never mind the punishment," she led him into a deeper room that started to look a lit like the underground slam.

"What about?" he asked checking over the area.

"What are you doing here?" she turned to face him.

"By pure and unwanted accident. I wouldn't be here if your boys didn't shoot me down."

"So you know nothing of us?"

"Nope, totally clueless," Riddick touched the formation on his left.

"What about of her?"

Riddick whipped his head toward Dame Vakko, "Her?"

"The one you were with."

"Let's not get into it," Riddick said, trying to keep the growls to a minimum, "I thought she didn't matter."

"She doesn't," Dame Vakko began to walk again, a little slower than before, "Where do you come from originally?"

"I was born on new earth if I was told correctly."

"So, you're human?"

"And you are not?"

"Ever necromonger was something and some one else at one time before they converted," she took a quick breath, "I want to offer you a special… exemption."

"Exemption, huh?"

"You have some qualities that could prove to be very useful to our cause," she stared at him, "you come and join us and we will make it your while."

"Although destroying planets and civilizations does sound stimulating, I much rather not. And what about the others down below?"

"Come now, Riddick. You really worried about people who would rather do without you?"

"Not everyone is like that," Riddick kept a straight face and watched as she walked around him in a tight circle, "She isn't."

"So… one person is worth a lifetime of pain and even death?" She stopped right in front of him, and after a few moments of silence she knew he wasn't going to answer her she continued, "Bring her with you. Have her convert."

"I doubt that she'll agree with that. Besides she won't let the others down."

"You are willing to give it all up to stay with her?"

"Giving up what?"

"A simple life," she walked over to a smaller door.

Riddick chuckled a little under her breath, "Lady, my life's everything but simple."

"It could be," she nodded toward the smaller door, "This way leads toward your underground, underfoot life; her chosen path. Or you can convert and live in an upper-class society you deserve."

Riddick took off his goggles and rubbed his head, "I guess you give me no choice."

Dame Vakko smiled, "I knew you'd see it my way."

"Who said that?" Riddick walked past her and toward the rock formation with the smaller door, "I'm taking the path down."

"Fine," she clicked her fingers as the huge door in front of her opens back toward the entrance hall, "Riddick…"

He stopped right before entering the rock formation and waited for a response.

"The more you resist them, the greater the damage they'll be," she gave him a smug smile as she left.

"I've made my choice," Riddick grumbled to himself as he walked through the rock formation.

Riddick felt the air around him begin to cool as he went deeper underground. For hours he was going through the tunnels, just now understanding how lost he actually was without Kyra leading the way. Although half the time that he was wondering through the tunnels, he didn't really in any way concentrate on where he was going. He was too stuck on his choice of staying with Kyra and the others. Usually something like this would bring Riddick to the winning side, but so far he sided with the losing. A simple life would be nice, but it wasn't the one for him. He needed the chase. He needed the run. He needed the thrill, but he did admit he would love a vacation.

"That kid is going to be the death of me," Riddick grumbled as he turned toward a small bit of light that had to be coming from the slam. As soon as he stepped into the cavern, he knew that something was very off. Everyone was gathered at the main structure… where Kyra and the others usually held their meetings. He tried not to show his eagerness, but couldn't help it as he walked and pushed his way through the crowd of people.

They all stood outside the front door and looked like they were waiting for something. Riddick tried to look past them and through the windows, but too many heads were in the way. After his third attempt to get closer a person from the crowd speaks up.

"Riddick's back!" the crowd looks at Riddick in a disapproving fashion and stays still.

Hassan is the first one out of the main structure and walked straight toward Riddick. Pain and fear were both apparent, but were hidden beneath a calm mask. Riddick stood in front of him, confused as hell, but still kept his calm and rough exterior as usual. Hassan stepped directly in front of him and stared into his quicksilver eyes.

"I believe it would be best if you followed me inside, Mr. Riddick," Hassan began to walk back toward the building, but Riddick stopped him before he opened the doors.

"First you tell me what the hell is going on," Riddick growled.

"She's hurt," Hassan said wit a crack in his voice, "They beat her to a point of near death. She is barely holding on."

In that one moment, for the first time, Riddick felt his defense fall, "What?"

"Kyra, Mr. Riddick," Hassan tried to sound stronger, but was failing miserably, "We don't know if she is going to make it."