Chapter 26: Destiny

The moment Riddick said those words, he felt a peace and an indescribable sense of fulfillment and power rise within himself. He felt as though he had finally come home; as though his whole life had led him up to this point; that everyone in his life had helped him come to this place at this time…To fulfill his destiny.

Until he had met Jack – Kyra - Riddick had always lived for himself. Trying to survive in the dangerous and deadly place the Universe had become, and he had found at a very young age he had a talent for surviving; for escaping when no one else could. He had learned that you had to kill or be killed. He found he had a talent for that at a young age as well. He always made sure that no matter what else happened, he would make it out. He would live, and he would fight to be free.

Then he had met Jack. A skinny, awkward twelve year old kid who somehow drew him to her, made him want to take care of her. He found that he couldn't just let her die when the alien had attacked her on T2, and for the first time in his life, he had risked his life for someone else and he saved her. He had then tried to leave her and take off on his own, and though it had been hard and he almost changed his mind as he headed for the ship alone, he almost succeeded until Carolyn had come back and made him realize that maybe, just maybe, there were some people worth trying for. Worth dying for. He again risked his life, his safety, his dream of finally being free and he went back and helped Carolyn save Imam and Jack. He had almost died in the process and had to watch as the true hero, Carolyn, died in the grasp of one of the creatures. Seeing her die for him, someone who had almost left her and other two to die alone on that planet, had changed something in him. Something he could not define, and though he didn't realize it, at that moment he had begun a long, slow journey down the path to rejoin the human race. One young girl, and one faithful holy man, would play huge rolls in helping him down that path.

Now, after all this time, all the steps he had taken, here he stood. Ready and able; with the one person who meant more to him than life itself, the one who had led him out of the pointless life of running, hiding and killing, with Kyra by his side; to take on the Elders and anyone else he would have to; to save a people that he had never even known existed until recently. His people; his and Kyra's. He was ready to no longer fight only for himself. He was ready to no longer sacrifice only for the girl he loved and needed. He was ready to fight for a cause. To fight for freedom, for life, for vengeance; for himself, for Kyra, and for all Furya.

Shirah shoulders slumped in relief when she heard his words. She watched as people glanced around at each other, unsure of what had just transpired. Then quickly they realized what Riddick's statement had meant: Murmurs turned to talking, and talking quickly turned to cheers. Then one at a time; men, women, children all placed their hand against their chest, over their marks, and bowed their heads. The room grew quiet. A new feeling filled the air, a feeling that had been absent on Furya for nearly thirty years: Hope. Maybe he was right, maybe…finally… they could settle their past. Maybe then they could begin to have a future.

Kyra stood silently, watching as the man she loved, the man she had worshiped as a child, and the one man she respected, change. It happened before her very eyes. She saw the years of scraping a living in the penal system fall away from his broad shoulders. She saw his identity as a convict, a murderer fly away in an invisible breeze. She saw him become the man that she had always seen; a fighter for right and justice, a protector of those who were weak, a warrior for life and freedom.

In the several years she had spent in Crematoria, she had once wondered why she had been so drawn to Riddick when she was a young girl; what had it been about him, a hardened killer, which made him irresistible to her, a lonely kid? At the time she didn't have an answer to that question, but now it struck her: The reason why he, a convict and a murderer, had drawn her, and why all children seemed to be drawn to him: It was because they were not fooled by his titles, by the men he had killed. They could see the real man, the man who now stood before her; pledging, in his own way, to protect and fight for an entire race.

Pride and love surged through her and, without realizing what she was doing, she walked up to Riddick and stood next to him. Knowing and appreciating that she was the only one he would allow to walk up behind him and stand so close; and standing there, she waited.

Riddick felt Kyra's presence as she moved up behind him and came to a stop at his side. Without ever taking his goggled eyes or his blade off Elder Declan, and maintaining his unceasing awareness of the room, he stepped back away from the Elder. With his free hand he reached up and removed his goggles in the fading light of the Council Chamber and, looking straight into Declan's faded brown eyes, he said softly, "Your power is gone, old man. Leave. While you still can."

With intense hate, humiliation, and fear written all over his face, Declan sent one last look at the guards that he had once commanded, pleading for their help. When he saw that none would come to his aid, he turned and with as much dignity as he could muster in his bent frame, he stalked out of the room; a beaten old man.

Finally Riddick turned towards Kyra, and an odd look fell over his face, as though a memory had flashed before his eyes. Then, without hesitation, he reached down and lifted Kyra's right hand and placed it against his chest, over his mark, and holding it in place with his left hand he reached his right hand out and placed it over the mark he had given to her. The world seemed to shrink until it contained only the two of them, and only the look from the other's eyes. Then, as one, they leaned forward and kissed; gently, lightly and as they did so, the room exploded with cheers.

Shirah walked forward hesitantly and stood before the kissing couple. She turned to face the crowd and slowly announced, "You have all just witnessed a great event. The tyrannical rule of the Elders is over. The old ways have come back to life before our very eyes, and we now have not only one leader but two. With this kiss, as in times before, it is sealed. The Riddick, the one last alpha Furyan, has chosen to share his leadership with Kyra. It is now our duty, our privilege, to follow them, advise them, support them as we seek to settle our past to find our future." She turned back to Riddick and Kyra and with great dignity, she place her right hand over her mark and slightly bowed her head. The room hushed once again as all followed suit, honoring the new leaders of Furya.