Chapter 3

He landed on the planet, in a secluded area away from prying eyes. But instead of exiting straight away, he sat in the chair and watched out of the window, looking at the lights of the city in front. With the help of the map, he remembered what the city was called- New Mecca. He was surprised he hadn't been intercepted on the way down. It was standard procedure to intercept an unknown craft, on most planets, as it could be hostile. And with the threat of a Necromonger invasion he would have thought that the planet would have been on lockdown. Obviously not. He just couldn't understand it, but then again, he had come in over a dark area and his ship was black, so he may have been well camouflaged or he may have just missed the sentries.

He was watching and waiting. Watching for sentries, to see how many there were, where they were. Watching for any sign of the Necros, because as soon as they show themselves the city would go on lockdown for sure and he wouldn't be able to move without being seen, which wasn't a big deal, but seeing a cloaked and hooded man wearing weapons could arouse their suspicions. And waiting for the right time to go, the worst thing he could possibly do was to take his hover-bike out to get closer to the city when a sentry is patrolling. Once satisfied, he took his hover-bike out of his cargo bay, slotted his swordstaff into the saddle holster which was made specifically for a pole-arm and seated behind the handlebar at a slight angle.

He closed the cargo bay doors and looked at his ship appreciatively. It was large, at least 20 metres long from nose to tail and 13 metres long at its widest point. It may have been large, but was as fast - if not faster - and just as agile as a fighter. It was primarily a troop transporter, carrying up to 20 troops. Its cargo bay was designed to carry two speeders or one tank and two bikes. In this case he only had a fighter, his fighter, and his hover-bike. But the best part of the ship was its firepower. It played a dual role; first was the aforementioned troop transporter capability, and the second was a frigate destroyer, but Voldan upgraded the weapons to be able to take on a cruiser so he could tackle the large Necro ships. His main weapons were on the tips the wings, disguised as points. But when the ship entered attack mode the tips separated revealing the heavy cannons. There were anti-cruiser missiles hidden in the wings, and homing missiles, precision missiles and unguided missiles. Rockets were also in the ships armoury. Under the fuselage there was also a pair of concussion cannons. He loved his ship, but as yet he hadn't thought of a decent name for it, but that would come later. For now, he had work to do.

He mounted his bike and sped off towards the city, constantly looking around for a sight of a sentry or a Necro-ship. All was clear. It just wasn't right, where were all the ships, surely they must be preparing for an assault. Everyone knew that the comet preceded the Necros, but the soldiers of New Mecca had obviously not heeded that warning.

He left his bike on the outskirts of the city. Taking out his swordstaff, he started running. He was comfortably camouflaged at the moment since nothing could be seen where there were no lights, and he was wearing black. All that could be seen were his shining eyes, which looked like small, bright blue lights. Some people had mistaken his eyes when they were shining. They thought that they allowed him in to see in the dark. This is not the case however, as they only show that he is angry, and do not give him the ability of night-vision. He had enhanced senses, but they did not allow him to see in the dark. But like everyone else, when he couldn't see, his already enhanced hearing, and keen sense of smell was enhanced to make up for it. Though he had another sense that no one else had, and this sense was his strongest. He could sense electricity. This sense was so strong that he could even sense the small amount that was in the body, in the brain, and when it was passed through the body. This allowed him to sense movement. This was the sense he mainly relied on, because when people could move noiselessly, mask their smells and blend in to their surroundings, they could not mask the electricity from when they moved. This was the sense he was relying on now, he was running towards the lights while checking around for movement.

There wasn't far to go, he had parked on the outskirts, which were not a mile from the city. Safe enough to stay away from danger but close enough for him to get to quickly should he encounter any. Once inside the city, he slowed to a fast walk and stalked the streets. But it wasn't easy as the streets were still bustling with people; he guessed that they had taken the threat of invasion much more seriously than the soldiers had. To make it easier, he flipped the two switches on his pads which extended the claws and climbed swiftly up a wall to get to the roof. It was easy as they were all flat and close, allowing him to run across with ease. He heard a commotion not too far away and stopped to check what it was. There were soldiers shouting at civilians and there was more shouting in a big house.

He heard someone shout, "He can help us!"

And there was a woman shouting, though he could not make out what over the din. Then the noise of gunfire rang out of one of the rooms overlooking the street from the top. It was dark in their but was continuously illuminated by the flashes from the muzzles of the guns. Voldan crouched on the roof, staying out of sight of everyone down below, and watched. He had an inkling that Riddick would be here, simply for the fact of the amount of commotion and soldiers, he knew it wasn't the Necromongers; if it was, then there would have been Necros all over the streets, swarming like locusts and epic gun battles going on in the streets.

Suddenly the gunfire stopped. There was silence, well it wasn't silence as there was still the commotion in the street, but after the gunfire, it seemed like silence. A couple of minutes passed, then Voldan saw who he was looking for. Riddick walked out of the front door and after talking to a young child, he pulled his hood over his head and started running down the street. Voldan followed him from the roof, easily keeping up with his pace. Suddenly sirens started blaring, followed swiftly by more gunfire from heavier guns. Missiles and rockets soared through the air towards the sky.

By now, Riddick had come on to the roofs in front of Voldan and was running across almost as easily as Voldan, but he couldn't jump as far or as high. If he wanted to Voldan could clear three roofs with one leap while running, but he didn't as that would attract too much attention. A strange noise was in the air, sounding like something falling. He looked up and just as he did, he saw a pillar-like ship plummeting to earth, hitting the ground with so much force that it sent a dust cloud and shockwaves around it. Straight after the lights went out and the guns stopped as if there was something on that colossal ship that blacked out the city.

Riddick moved off, Voldan followed again trying to catch him, but his body wouldn't move any faster, as if it didn't want him to intercept the large man. He stopped. 'leave it for another day,' he thought, 'tonight, I've got old friends to catch up with.' As if on cue soldiers appeared in the street, Necro soldiers, they just appeared out of thin air. Voldan felt the rage grow inside him, his eyes shone brighter than ever before. One could practically see lightning bolts flashing in them. The roof on which he was standing began to vibrate menacingly and lightning flashed around his hands, but this time Voldan didn't placate himself, in fact, he fed his rage. These bastards had taken away his soldiers, his family, his home, and if he could, he would make every single one of them pay. He ran forward and jumped off the roof with a menacing blood-thirsty roar, a roar that sounded unnatural even to him. The Necros looked up as if expecting to see some kind of demon, but some just smiled as he landed in the middle of them, seeing he was merely a man, one man against Necro soldiers. Their cockiness influenced their smiles, making them wider. Voldan saw the smiles; it was a big mistake on their part.

Quicker than anyone expected he swung his swordstaff, decapitating a soldier and then went on to meet another point first. He yanked it out again and blood followed the blade. Another came forward. Voldan brought the haft up catching the soldier in the chin with enough force to lift him off his feet, indeed he was lifted off his feet and flew about six feet backwards, completing at least two somersaults as he went and crashed into another soldier behind him. Voldan didn't wait around to see the result, he went onto his next victim, skewering him with the point then withdrew it and smacked him in the side of the head causing his limp body to crash into an advancing Necro. Another came from behind. Voldan whipped round jumped and slammed the Blade into the man's skull. It was embedded in the brain and Voldan couldn't be bothered trying to take it out, not like the Necros would let him, he would deal with them first.

He drew his knives and starting methodically cutting through the soldiers. It was as if he was a spectator at a show; it all seemed so distant. He lost count how many he put down once he drew his knives, all he knew was that he was getting covered in blood from the slit jugulars. He kept on going until every Necro around him was either dead, dying, pretending or running. But he still wanted more, much more. But he would get it before the night was over.

Aereon had seen Voldan sitting on the roof. She had never seen him before, but some how he looked familiar. There was something about him that she had seen before. Perhaps it was the eyes; he might be a good 20 metres away but she could still see the shining eyes. That must be what, as Riddick had the same eyes, but this man's were a different colour. While Riddick had silvery eyes, this man's were blue, light blue, and they were bright. She saw him follow Riddick once he came out of the door. 'Two cloaked men,' she smiled. But no matter how much she joked, she could not shake the feeling of dread from her; she knew that Necromongers were coming, everyone did, and the comet kind of gave it away. But she was worried about the cloaked man, he looked like a soldier, and soldiers don't look for Riddick to be friends with them.

She took to following the armed man, gliding through the air.

She didn't actually realise how fast they both were. But she was easily keeping up with them. Then the Necromongers struck, the lights went out and the anti-air guns and SAM's stopped firing. She then saw the Necromongers land next to the rooftops where Riddick had been running, and where the second man was. She saw the cloaked man jump in to the midst of the company and she was sure that he was going to get killed. But he surprised her. She was stunned at the sheer ferocity of his fighting, not to mention his skill. One after the other fell under the blades of his knives until they had gone.

Aereon saw him sheath his knives and stoop to pick his spear, which was embedded in a soldier's skull, pink and grey gelatine spilt over the floor around him. She guessed this was as good a time as any. She just hoped he had calmed down enough. She glided down from the vantage point of the roof. She landed behind the soldier silently, so quietly that even Riddick would not have known she was there, apart from the wind of course, but they were outside so that would have been understandable. But even though she landed silently he still whipped around and rested the blade of his knife at her throat, the second time that had happened in the space of an hour. He didn't say anything, just stood and glared, his eyes flaring. Once he realised she wasn't a threat he moved his blade away, but he was still suspicious as this woman who glides through the air and becomes invisible in a gust of wind could be a threat.

"I am no threat to you," she said, as if reading his thoughts.

"Why should I listen to you? You may be a distraction for one of those bastards to stab me in back!" He growled, whipping round as if to see someone just about to do that. Lightning was flashing round his hands, a clear sign that he was furious, as always when fighting. Aereon noted the lightning.

"I assure you, I am not in league of the enemy," she spoke calmly, not wanting to rile this clear soldier any more than he already was, "Let us start again. I am Aereon, envoy of the Elementals."

At hearing this he calmed down instantly, he knew that the Elementals were a neutral faction, but they were good. "My name is Voldan Galdro, commander of the Nelrarnah brigade of Brilbane." He bowed low and then sheathed his knife, "please forgive me, for I was unaware of your being."

"No apology is needed; I should not have crept up on you." Voldan smiled,

"What brings you to me?"

"I have come to ask what you want of Riddick." She said politely.

"How do you know I was looking for Riddick, how do you know?" He was tense again, his barriers rising.

"I saw you crouched on the roof and follow him once he left the house." Voldan calmed down again.

"I have been told to look for him." His eyes had dimmed so that the iris's looked like those of any other blue eyes.

"Are you a mercenary?" she asked not meaning any offence, but she said the wrong thing; she knew as Voldan's eyes flashed again.

"I am no merc, and you will do well to remember it." He growled.

"I am sorry, I meant no offence, I am just curious as to why you are chasing Riddick."

"It is my business who I chase, why I chase them and how." His hands were flickering near the hilt of his left knife, ready to strike out again. Aereon knew she had to placate him, again, if she was ever to get information from him.

"I mean you no harm, nor do I mean to cause offence, please calm down."

Voldan's eyes flared brighter, but then dimmed again to normal level. It was pointless getting angry, he knew she did not mean to offend him, but she had caught him at a bad time, the daimon of battle had not yet left him. But she seemed to understand.

"I am sorry, but I don't have time for this right now, all I can, and will, tell you is that I have been sent to find Riddick to make him an ally."

"Who? Who sent you?"

"That I cannot tell you" He replied

"Why can't you?"

"Because, I do not know myself." He said, smiling, "All I know of that is, some woman contacted me through my thoughts, seemed to know what I was thinking and told me to look for Riddick because for what I need to do requires his help."

She seemed to understand, but didn't say anymore about it. "For someone who didn't want to tell me, you didn't keep it to yourself."

"That was the battle-side talking, this is me." He held out his hand, Aereon took it, "Voldan at your service."

"Thank you, but I do not require your service. I shall leave you now, you have company."

He looked behind him and saw another company of Necros heading his way, he turned back again to speak once more to Aereon, but she had vanished. He grunted turned away and made for the company, eyes once again shining with anger, knives reversed in his hands.

The last thing the captain saw was a bright eyed, goateed man charging towards him, Necro bodies behind him. He was about to shout to his men but some unseen force sent him flying back, hurtling over the heads of his soldiers and hitting the wall with a sickening crack. He saw through his fading vision the 'torch-eyed' man slicing through the ranks of his beloved Necromongers, heading towards him.