Chapter 9: Rage and Hope

As Riddick and Shirah slowly exited the tower, twilight fell. Glancing through the thickening murky shadows Riddick led Shirah around toward the small gate he had used before, knowing that the army would be using the much larger gates further east.

Coming to the gate, Riddick pushed Shirah back with one arm against the wall as he looked out of the gate. He watched as the ranks past through the larger gate two hundred yards away, row after row. He could hear the sounds of energy guns and screaming beginning to spread throughout the city. He also saw many people making a run for it into the hills surrounding the battle field from other hidden gates like the one he and Shirah were at. One of the groups seemed to be led by a man dressed completely in black. His hair was slicked back from his forehead in traditional Necromonger style. "Must be an AWOL Necro soldier." Riddick thought, turning his attention back to the army in front of him.

Finally, the last of the soldiers stepped into the city. Quickly, he grabbed Shirah's arm and drug her through the small gate. Letting her go once they were through, he crouched and began to run in the thick shadows along the hills surrounding the battlefield toward the ship compound. Shirah struggled to keep up with him in the dark, stumbling over hidden rocks and dips in the ground.

As they neared the compound, Riddick stopped and squatted down in an indentation on the hillside, removing his goggles. Shirah sat down heavily on the ground panting. Looking around, Riddick spotted a mid-sized warship set slightly apart to the outside of the compound. He looked around making a quick estimation of the fire power left in the immediate area.

Suddenly the sound of a small rock avalanche caught their attention. Across the valley, Riddick could see the same man who led the group of people from the city frozen against the hill. Rocks and pebbles bounced against each other tumbling down the hill. Quickly, an alert went up from the soldiers on guard. Soon a squadron of men poured out of a transport, running towards the sound. They started to head up the hill when a volley of shots rang out from the hills all around the valley. The Necromongers began shooting back causing a heavy crossfire. Men and women appeared from all around, storming the nearby ships. Soon the valley was filled with the sound of gun shots and the screams of dying warriors.

Riddick glanced at the ships, realizing instantly that they were preparing for take off to reach a safe distance from the battle in the sky. Jumping to his feet he tossed Shirah one of his knives, pulled out his two curved blades and jumped into the conflict. Slashing with deadly efficiency Riddick quickly gained ground toward the solitary warship. Shirah was staying in his wide wake, killing with some skill anyone who threatened her. As they neared the ship, the way became more and more crowded and they eventually came to a stop. Men were all around them shooting, and slashing with anything they could find. Riddick suddenly felt his left leg buckle. Looking down he saw a long, straight knife sticking out of his thigh. Grunting, he grabbed a hold of the handle and jerked it out. It had not hit the bone or any artery so he quickly straightened and continued to push himself toward the ship knowing that it would soon close. His leg was throbbing and it seemed as though everyone he cut down was replaced with two more. He could feel Shirah pressing her back against his, trying to stay upright in the press of battle. He could feel the blood covering his chest and arms, screams were coming from every direction.

He could feel the anger and frustration build inside of him, then, unexpectedly, the world became muffled. The pain in his leg receded. "Necromongers." He thought, "Mother fucking Necromongers. A curse on mankind. They have taken everything from me. They took her. THEY took HER!" Her face appeared clearly to him in his minds eye, the expression she wore as she sat watching him as he washed himself in Crematoria blazed in his memory. Suddenly he exploded into a frenzy of movement. Men fell around him as though a bomb had gone off. Filled with rage and hatred, Riddick roared, slashing at every warrior that was within reach. Shirah quickly backed away, dazed by what she saw. Riddick was a blur of swift, efficient movement. Spinning he kicked, slashed, punched and stabbed. Soon people began to back away from him knowing that proximity would mean certain death.

The world slowly began to come back into focus as the men around him gave way. Darkness was all around him. He heard yells and screams. He saw people running and stumbling in the dark, fighting for their lives. Suddenly a brilliant light flashed around him, causing him to duck and shield his eyes. The Necromongers had bombed the area to the north of them clearing out many of the rebels. As he staggered blinking, trying to clear the stars from his eyes, Shirah's face floated before him. "Vengeance belongs to us ALL!" She exclaimed, grabbing at him, trying to keep him from continuing his slaughter of the Necromongers, and attempting to drag him towards the ship.

There came another sound, the sound of a gasp of recognition followed by a scuffle. Riddick turned quickly towards the sound which originated near the warship, all he heard was a scream fading off into the bowels of the ship. "Riddick?!"

His heart stopped. He would recognize that voice anywhere. "But how? She died!" He thought, confused. A thought struck him. "The mark! She took the mark. She didn't die…she crossed the threshold!"

Riddick took off at a dead run toward the warship, following the sound of her voice, leaving Shirah to follow as quickly as she could; luckily no one was left in his way as he tore across the field, jumping over bodies and craters left by energy bombs, the pain in his leg long forgotten. Leaping onto the ramp leading onto the warship he slowed, adjusting his grip on his knives.

Once inside the door he secured the supply hold and entered the door cross the room. He made his way steadily from room to room, only running into a few soldiers who died before they even saw him. Finally, he had cleared all the rooms and made his way toward the small command center. Glancing through the open door he spotted a small heap on the floor with long, curly, auburn hair. "Kyra?" he thought feeling as though he couldn't breathe.

Stepping through the door he stood, looking deceptively relaxed. Every eye turned to look at him. Everything was still as the reality of his unexpected presence sunk in. All at once they attacked him. Leaping forward he beheaded the first man, spinning he slashed the next who had stepped forward across his lower abdomen, blood spattered across the floor. Even as Riddick slashed the man, he stepped forward and lodged his knife in the throat of a soldier who swung wildly at Riddick with his war axe. The man fell sputtering and gagging to the ground. Making one more turn Riddick rammed his second knife into the spine of the final soldier who crumpled to the floor instantly.

Straightening up, Riddick saw Shirah standing astounded in the door way. Ignoring her, he slowly turned towards the body he had seen. Taking a deep, steadying breath he walked towards her. Kneeling, he slowly turned her onto her back.

"Kyra."