Chapter 8: Scheming

Shirah felt nervous all day. Riddick came and went, scouting out the area. Shirah quickly got the impression that he didn't like to be around others. Understandable since he had been alone for so long. Respecting his wishes, she stayed behind in the shop trying to keep herself busy by investigating and organizing their foodstuff.

Finally Riddick returned in the mid-afternoon, but Shirah realized that he was not going offer any of the information he had found out. She had had enough, "Riddick! What is going on out there?" She demanded impatiently, "When are the soldiers going to be coming into town? Will they find us?"

Riddick turned to look at her, a smirk on his face, "Hey lady, you're awfully jumpy for a grocer." He said mockingly, glancing around at the organized and neatly stocked shelves. Sitting down in the chair by the counter, he continued on more seriously, "We're safe for now, the army is still resting. They are waiting for everyone else to arrive before they set up shop. The way it looks to me is that this was the final city on this planet that had not already been conquered by them. That smaller army we saw never got any reinforcements, they were alone and after that battle the big boys own this planet now."

Shirah nodded. Her fears were far from relieved, but she trusted Riddick to know what he was talking about. She knew that he would make sure he would stay alive. The only thing that concerned her was that she wasn't sure if Riddick would make sure she would. "After they do come into the town then what are we going to do?" She asked hesitantly.

Riddick had been watching her face as she had been processing what he said. He could tell she was worried what would happen to her. "I told her not to expect me to cover her ass." He thought. Leaning back and closing his eyes underneath his goggles he answered, "I told you to wait."

For the rest of the day Shirah stayed out of Riddick's way. She spent most of her time upstairs lying on the bed. She had to figure out a way to get Riddick to take her, Jack and Lalia off this God forsaken planet. She was no longer young, and if she didn't leave this planet with Riddick, she didn't know if she ever would be able to leave. "I have to get off this planet!" She thought, "I have to figure out a way to take Jack and Lalia with me. They may be Necromongers, but they have always been good to me."

After Lalia and her husband crossed the threshold to the Underverse they began to realized the lies that the Necromongers had told to them. Before Lalia's husband died, they had Jack. One of the very few children born in the Underverse. In the battle that killed Jack's father, Lalia had run carrying Jack into a small house to hide. Shirah's. They had been close friends ever since.

"Riddick is completely unreasonable. He cannot wipe out the Necromongers alone! Not only is it an impossibility since they span the entirety of the Underverse, but he would be robbing the entire Furyan race our chance at vengeance! We must leave this planet, we must leave the Underverse, and I must get to my people. They need what I have been holding for them for so long before they can destroy the Necromonger race! They need a leader, and they need their life force."

Slowly a low hum caught her attention. "What is that?" she wondered. Standing, she ran down the stairs to find Riddick. She found him standing in the door way, goggles down, looking into the sky. "Riddick?" She asked. He remained unmoved as the humming grew louder and louder and suddenly a dark shadow began to cover the city. Shirah gasped as a large Necromonger ship came into view. Stepping outside, they saw an entire armada complete with four giant transports, a dozen war ships and a tall, evil looking basilica with three faces; one looking in each direction.

"Holy shit." Shirah breathed.

Riddick turned and jogged toward the tower again, Shirah on his heals. Jerking open the door they watched as the ships began to land. The basilica was slowly set in the center of the field with the transports and warships set in a circle around it. "Just like on Helion Prime." Riddick thought.

Turning around and looking towards the city, Riddick could see the remaining citizens gathering on the streets to watch the ships pass. Many knelt down, already accepting their new Lord Marshal; others kicked those who had knelt. Soon fights were breaking out in the streets, men and woman killing each other over a choice that they didn't have. "Pieces of shit." Riddick thought, disgusted by the blood lust in these Necromongers.

A loud shout caught his attention. Turning back towards the battle field he watched as the largest transport opened to reveal the new Lord Marshal and his commanders. "LONG LIVE THE LORD MARSHAL!" The soldiers shouted, kneeling down in straight, even ranks.

The Lord Marshal Baylock the Brutal proudly surveyed his troops in the gathering dusk. He was satisfied with his progress. He had, in a matter of a single year, wiped out his rival Lord Marshal Kryll. He now owned this entire planet. Giving the order to recruit or kill everyone in the city, he turned and headed back into the ship.

Riddick and Shirah watched as the ranks turned as one and began to head toward the city. "Stick close." Riddick ordered. "If you don't, don't expect me to wait." Turning he made his way down the tower. Bewildered Shirah obeyed and quickly followed him. She was relieved that he even thought of her, but she was confused as to what his plan might be. All she knew was that she was going to keep up