Sorry I haven't updated in a week. Been a bit addicted to Vin's new facebook page... (yes, it's real. One Race - his production company - has verified it.)

And, I'm working on some new stuff, but it's not ready. One's a very naughty little slash piece, so if you're a fan of "Dexter" - you may want to check back when I'm done with this.;)

And as always, thanks to M. for betaing so fast! (My commas and run-on sentences get away from me.)


"Your daughter is safe, for the time being," Eldar said as he handed Nicola a cup of tea. "Magic is a strange creature, but it is bound by ritual, and in this case, subject to the phasing of the moon." Nicola sat back on the couch beside Riddick, sipping her drink thoughtfully. It was hard to pay attention with so much history surrounding her in the temple sitting room. And Riddick had sunk back into sulking mode, bored and irritated at the lecture.

"A woman's cycle is traditionally tied to the moon," Eldar continued, pacing the room slowly. "That is why Shirah was able to possess Jacqueline, the moon was full last night." Riddick shifted uncomfortably, crossing his arms. Nicola bit her lip trying not to smirk. She'd had 'the talk' with Jack a while ago, but mention of his daughter's maturation obviously was not something Daddy wanted to discuss. "If she were Named, she wouldn't have been open to this influence..."

"And we can't do that now?" Nicola was still confused. Eldar smiled tightly and shook his head. He paused at an end table running his hand briefly over the large white book it held.

"No. The Naming ceremony is also tied to planetary movement. It is traditionally done in a child's sixth year and I'd advised we do it when Jack turned 12, in conjunction with her brother's sixth year. " Nicola sighed. This explained why both daughter and father had hinted at 'Naming.' "I will discuss it further with you, Lady, later. Once this crisis is resolved. I trust, my liege, your reticence has been cured in this matter?" Riddick grunted and shrugged when Nicola turned to look at him.

"Yeah. Whatever." Eldar nodded and was quiet a moment, staring down at the couple before continuing.

"There is, unfortunately, still the matter of why Shirah attempted this blasphemous thing. You said she told you she was done trying to coerce you to fulfill your duty..."

"It's not my 'duty.'" Riddick cut in angrily, sitting up. "I abdicate or whatever. Find someone else to play interstellar shepherd or genetic tracking sheepdog. Talk to those Helion fucks that were so keen to breed me, they're more into this 'save the Furyans' shit than I am."

"Riddick!" Nicola hissed, reddening. Eldar went rigid, looking shocked and incredulous.

"You cannot change what you are, Amadak. That is why she targeted your children. Only Alpha blood could issue the Call. And if she had her way, Shirah would have likely slit your son's throat to bleed out your heir, kill the Line, while she used your daughter's body to assume leadership in your secession." The Elemental paused, heedful of the knife Riddick now had at his throat.

"Richard!" Nicola recovered from her own mute horror at Eldar's words. "He's trying to help us! Sit down!" Eldar sighed, transmuting to flames and swirling back a few feet before rematerializing.

"Lady, I appreciate your concern, but I am used to my liege's temper." He eyed Riddick with indulgence and mild irritation. Riddick growled low, still not dropping the blade. "I speak in terms you'll understand, Amadak, and will risk your rage if it makes you comprehend the importance of the stakes. She has the power of the dead, as I have told you. Many of those souls were content with your fulfillment of the prophecy that led to the planetary genocide... not that the Necromongers would have spared this world in its absence. By your destruction of the leader, the armada... the martyred souls of many would have been satisfied to pass on, but that would have meant Shirah would have had less force at her control."

"You're saying she's using this as an excuse," Nicola put in. Eldar nodded.

"She is trapped between realms. She is not dead. But she will fade like the ghosts without their righteous fury. Perverting the ancestral need for remembrance, for the very human-animal need to see their progeny succeed... She has taken the home Call and made it another unfulfilled quest."

"What is this 'Call' anyway?" Nicola had stood finally, pulling her rankled mate back to the couch.

"Traditionally... it was a clan... a Line's blood battle cry. Furyans are more... biologically in touch with their animal senses. They can smell blood, differentiate among their own and feeling a kinsman in distress triggers an exaggerated fury, the need for both immediate protection and defense. Clan leaders, Alphas, learned to channel this response by purposeful bloodletting before a battle. It calls forth the animal, the Furyan essence, and is what made them such formidable warriors. Those who responded strongest, proved maliable to this Call, were more often victorious. Natural selection and evolution did the rest. The ability to engender loyalty, even as power consolidated within civilization, became an Alpha trait. Many Furyan leaders have exploited that species-specific bloodlust, for both good and ill. It was used in inter-spacial military conquests during some of our darker days... in combination with other aspects of the Alpha's proclivity with metaphysical energy."

"This is something different though..." Nicola prompted. Eldar nodded absently, gazing at nothing for a while, flaming out of focus.

"What Shirah seeks, has promised, is a Call to the survivors, those that survived the massacre. She used the dead's power to mark you, mark all full-blood Furyans, long ago. You've both seen this mark surface in your children..." He held up his hand, and placed it across his chest, letting the flesh melt into a flaming palm mark, an imitation of the burn Riddick knew too well. "The mark obviously carries through the generations. Fifty years... is a long time in exile. Many younger Furyans may not even know what they are. Some have gone into hiding or been lost, without guidance, as you once were." Eldar focused on Riddick and smiled. "She wants them Called home and has consolidated much power from the physical and ethereal realms for this purpose. She is committed now, and cannot give up or she will lose the magic she has staked her continued existence on."

"That doesn't seem quite... natural," Nicola murmured. She reached for Riddick's hand for reassurance. Eldar nodded.

"It risks a shift in balance, which is why Aereon is coming. Elementals prefer not to interfere... but in this case, excising the cancer we helped cause is the less costly solution. We will bring her back into our realm cutting her off from her power. She was my student once, an Elemental apprentice, as I told your mate. I am devising a spell that will, with your help, draw her like a poultice does an infection. When Aereon and her charge arrive, please bring them to me. We will need your family's cooperation if this is to succeed."

"Will that be the end of this?" Riddick looked through narrowed eyes. Eldar clasped his hands in front of him, shrugged and sighed.

"I do not have the gifts of foresight that Aereon possesses, so I cannot be certain. Calculating the universe is difficult... I can only offer that this is the best solution, given our options and your preferences in this matter." The priest shut his eyes, visibly weary.

"Come on, Nicola. Think we're done for the night," Riddick rose and offered her a hand up.

"Thank you, Eldar. It's been enlightening." Nicola would express her gratitude, even if it didn't occur to Riddick to do the same. Eldar smiled and bowed.

"You are gracious, Lady. I am but a servant. Your appreciation of my work is gratifying. We will speak again, perhaps, under less dire circumstances." His eyes flicked to Riddick, looking for permission. Riddick scoffed and stomped past him toward the entrance.

"Oh whatever, priest. Talk to whoever you want. So long as you're not trying to steal my woman, I don't give a shit. " Nicola recognized the bitter attempt at humor but didn't laugh until she saw Eldar's shocked expression. She forgot how damn seriously everyone else took her lover. She touched the older man's hand reassuringly. She snatched it back when she heard a growl from the hallway.

"I mean it old man! You try anything and I'll find a way to gut you... just like that goddamn witch." Nicola sighed, whispered another "thank you" and hurried to catch her recalcitrant mate.


Aereon arrived with the regular military transport three days later. It was late afternoon and Nicola had kept the children with her for the meeting, since she intended to take the Elemental directly to Eldar. Or rather Elementals. She'd been told there would be another with Aereon, but she had expected another adult. Akiko was not what she expected.

Introductions were formally made in the small receiving room inside the docking station. Nicola and the children were waiting inside when the military escort announced their arrival. The Envoy was, after all, a ranking official. Aereon was traveling without her usual retinue of priests or formal escort, but the military was bound by courtesy and respect to offer an honor guard during the journey. Unless instructed directly otherwise, one observed formalities with Elementals, even when they went about private business such as this.

So Nicola almost missed the little girl completely, hidden behind Aereon in the midst of the three burly guards. The Envoy dismissed them at the door, thanked the captain and led the small girl around the table to where Nicola, Jack and Aiden had been sitting.

"Lady Cantaglia, thank you for meeting me," the Air Elemental smiled and inclined her head. Nicola was shocked at the small but obvious depreciating gesture. There had been a change in status since their last meeting, as Eldar had said. It was one thing for the Fire priest to say it, another completely to have it acknowledged by someone so worldly and formal. Even when Nicola had been Minister of Defense, she had deferred to the Elemental.

"Let me introduce my companion, Akiko Tokugawa." The doll-like Asian girl bowed, her long black hair nearly brushing the ground. She wore a silver robe, which only made her pale skin glow more whitely. "She is an Aether Elemental, born on Quintessa, and her parents agreed to allow her to acompany me on this errand." The little girl blinked, staring solemnly at first Jack and then Aiden, then turned her gaze to Nicola. Nicola was struck by how gray her eyes were, almost as silver as her robe. Almost, she noted privately, the same color as Riddick's in the dark and it was strange to see that glow with normal black pupils at the center. Even more so in a child that was probably six or seven years old.

"Aether Elementals seldom keep their human form after they mature," Aereon continued. "And they very rarely leave their homeworld. It goes without saying that they do not procreate often, so they are the rarest of breed. But Eldar and I agreed at her necessity to this task. " Nicola only nodded. She didn't know if the speech was for the children or her. There was something ethereal about the child, a glow beneath the skin perhaps. To have such a rare creature brought out of protective and secret custody... suddenly made the gravity of the situation hit her hard.

"Where is Riddick?" Akiko asked suddenly. If Aereon's voice was breathy and cool like the wind, the little girl's voice was almost dream-like and musical, like a fairie. Aiden cocked his head at her, a pleased smile crossing his face. He knew this one.

"Daddy is working. He won't be done till later." Nicola looked at her son, surprised, since he was usually so quiet around strangers. Jack punched him.

"You're not supposed to talk." she hissed. She knew how to behave around formal guests. But Nicola hadn't specifically told them to be quiet. Akiko's delicate lips quirked into a grin as Aiden pushed his sister and sulked silently at the reproach.

"Ladies," Nicola tried to recover. "This is my daughter Jacqueline and my son Aiden... Riddick." The last name an afterthought. Aereon swept forward, taking each of the children's hands in turn.

"Jacqueline I've met," the Envoy said smoothly, "But I never met the son. Aiden, Jacqueline, this is Akiko." Aiden poked his head around Aereon and waved to the little girl, the silly grin back on his face. She bowed again, a smooth motion. Aiden looked at his mother, confused.

"Why does she keep doing that?"

Nicola patted his shoulder. "It's polite where she comes from, like shaking hands. But you don't ever touch an Elemental dear, unless invited. It's rude." Aereon actually smiled at that.

"You are, as always, a consummate politician, Lady Cantaglia, and your manners are impeccable. It is gratifying that you take opportunities such as this to instruct the children in etiquette. I sense they will have much use for it in the future." Nicole inclined her head, acknowledging the veiled prophecy in her words.

"But as for now, we have one more leg in this journey before we rest, no? I presume you have acquired transportation?" Nicola nodded. Basir's land skimmer on loan again. She'd never had need of a vehicle herself, but if she was to make regular visits to the Temple, she would probably have to order one. For now, the farm vehicle would have to do. She led the way out the door.