Just the Beginning

Disclaimer: The usual. Not mine, no profit. Don't sue.

The sleek Necro warrior ship slid into normal space and started a wide descending arc towards Helion. As they broke through the atmosphere, the surface showed that the fires that had burned the night the city was attacked were long extinguished. Once proud lines of New Mecca were now bent and broken, the massive Conqueror Icon standing in the center of the city.

Vaako glanced to his left, eyeing the Lord Marshal's clenched jaw. The trip had been silent, Riddick seemingly lost in thought, and Vaako had made sure not to disturb him unnecessarily. But now they were at their destination, and communication would soon be needed.

They touched down lightly on a platform not completely decimated by the Necromongers earlier attack, shutting the system down. Riddick's buckle snapped backwards as he unhooked them and jumped from the seat. Vaako unbuckled himself, and trotted to keep up with the man already equipping himself with a gravity handgun and a second knife.

"Stay here," Riddick said as Vaako grabbed a weapon.

Vaako looked up and frowned, his hand tightening on the grip of his weapon as Riddick walked towards the ramp. "With all due respect, Lor--Riddick, you need backup. Who knows what degradation the people here have undergone since our departure."

"Look," Riddick said coming around and facing the commander, "why don't we cut the crap and be brutally honest here. The only reason you're so gung-ho to come with me is to make sure your precious Lord Marshal didn't bail on you. We both know I don't need you, so be glad I let you come at all."

Vaako's eyes narrowed and a small smirk appeared on his handsome face. "You're right Riddick, I didn't want to lose sight of you for a second. But that doesn't mean that you don't need someone to back you up in case of an emergency. There's no real reason for you not to accept my help."

Riddick deliberately eyed him up and down, and snorted. "Try two. I don't trust you, and you'd be shot on sight if there happened to be any resistance left here." Vaako blinked and looked down at himself, the dark armored suits' heaviness long ago accustomed to. He looked up as Riddick began pacing around him.

"The armor is protection from weak attacks. In fact our armory will have to have you fitted," he said pausing at Riddick's bark of laughter. "And I hope, with time and proof of my actions, that I will gain your trust."

Riddick's pacing stopped in front of him, his hands suddenly shooting out to push him into the nearest bulkhead. Vaako froze as Riddick's face closed within inches from his own, his body held boxed in by muscled biceps on either side of his head. "For someone with so much ambition, you do realize that you could easily take my place, right? Could tell your army that I died, that you challenged me and I lost, whatever you want. You're a capable man, you went up against the former Lord Marshal, so anyone who stepped up could be dealt with. You could have it all, never being lead by another man again. The. Very. Next. Lord. Marshal..." Riddick said, his low, gravelly voice seducing the imagery into his mind, a crystal clear picture of the Necromonger army at his feet...But only if he so desired it. And he had no such desire.

So close to Riddick, Vaako could see a flicker of the man's glowing eyes through his goggles. Catching them, he spoke just as low, serious in the face of Riddick's sarcasm.

"Though you may find it hard to believe, the desire to lead was more my wife's aspiration. I want a competent leader, someone whom our people can respect and follow unwaveringly. One of strength, wisdom, and character enough to lead such a large legion of warriors. And you are the most impressive man I have met in my years as a loyal follower of the Necromonger way. Where former Lord Marshal's inadequacy loomed over our heads, when I look at you, all I can see is prosperity for my people. You see, Lord Marshal, my ambition only goes as far as supporting your place at the head of the greatest race in this galaxy."

Vaako focused on breathing calmly and shallowly as he stared into the alien glow, the man's silence giving no indication of his thoughts.

Riddick's eyebrow rose as he dipped his head giving the commander another once-over. "If you're coming with me you need to blend in. I'll get you some threads, while you shave your head. It'll make you less noticeable." He stepped back and walked to the ramp, palming it open.

"And the name is Riddick," he said before hopping out the ship. Vaako breathed deeply and let it out in a harsh exhale. He headed to the fresher unit, knowing that he just may have to fight every step of the way to earn Riddick's trust...But, maybe he'd come out alive in the end.

~~~

By the time Riddick grabbed something nondescript and made a quick inquiry with a favor cashed in, Vaako was standing in a pile of black hair, rinsing his head of the left over hairs in the small unit. He looked up into his reflection and studied his new look. The hair meant nothing to him, but now he couldn't help but think of the similarities between his pale shaved head, and Riddick's. Perhaps a sign of a new beginning, with the new Lord Marshal...

Wiping over his bare head with a cloth, he turned to see Riddick leaning in the doorway, one hand holding a pile of clothes. With a nod at his head, he tossed them to Vaako.

"Not bad, once you get some sun. Change and we can take Kyra to her burial place. Then I need to visit a shelter in the city."

"As you say Riddick," he said. When he finished changing into the shirt, pants, and boots with a wrap over his head, he looked as any other man in the ruined city. They carefully guided Kyra's pod out of the ship to a banged up aircraft.

At Vaako's raised eyebrow, Riddick shrugged. "We've got too long a trek to carry this the whole way. And that's not the only stop." They lifted the pod onto the back of the aircraft, and slid in the front. After a brief fight between Riddick and the craft, it haltingly rose and coasted away at a fair speed.

Soon they were beyond the ruined city and gliding past small rivers, and tall grass to a large grated gate. As they drew closer Vaako could make out headstones as far as he could see beyond the gate. When they went through the opening, they went down several trails before coming to a stop. Riddick swung out of the aircraft, Vaako following close behind. They lifted Kyra's pod and trekked to a small raised mound with a headstone, wreaths and beads wrapped around it. Vaako silently read the inscription, 'Rest Beloved Imam,' and glanced at Riddick wondering about the connection.

They placed their load down, and Riddick jogged to the aircraft and back carrying primitive shoveling tools, tossing one to him. Vaako threw off his wrap as they began digging, the sun beating down on their backs. Vaako wondered about the culture that buried their dead, when the Necromonger way was to dispose of the bodies, either by a nearby sun, or into the cold of space. He thought of perhaps asking Riddick in the future.

Soon a sufficient space was made, and Kyra's pod was lowered into the ground.

"Give me a minute," Riddick said, his hands clenched, back rigid. Vaako walked away to sit in the craft waiting for a sign to return. As he watched, Riddick spoke for a moment, his lips touching something he held tightly in his hand. He stooped down to lay the object upon the pod, before standing, the sun gleaming off the sweat on his arms and head.

Vaako was struck by the moment, a similar picture flashing in his mind of Riddick standing in front of his throne, the interior lights glinting off the polished metal of Basilica's innards lighting on his skin. Glowing eyes scoured the vast Necromonger army before alighting on his own. He snapped out of the fleeting vision to see Riddick shoveling ground over the pod. He stood and moved to help as the sun continued its journey across the sky.

~~~

"Who is in this shelter we must visit?"

Riddick glanced at him and returned to his scanning of the ruins and the people flitting about, before answering. "That grave we looked at, near Kyra's...I made a promise to him to look after his family. I need to check with them, take them to a safe place."

Vaako nodded and fell silent as night quickly approached, further darkening the shadows already within the broken city. Soon they came to the busy center of the city, the New Mecca dome being the center of the people's repair. They left the aircraft in a side passage and walked among the natives to the dome's interior. Vaako kept his hand near his handgun as they passed a group of restive men, following Riddick as he made his way through the winding corridors.

Soon they came to a small corridor, a single door at the end of the hall. Riddick strode to the door, pushing it open to enter as melodious singing spilled into the hall. Vaako slipped in behind him, stationing himself at the door, as Riddick made his way through the candlelit room.

The singing stopped as a little girl flung herself at the tall man. "Riddick! I knew you would come back!"

"I thought you knew, Ziza. You're a smart girl, right Lajjun?"

Lajjun smiled and stood from her prayer mat, her hand coming out to clasp Riddick's arm, before briefly resting her head against his shoulder.

"Of course. She's been a very good girl, helping her Momma when her Pappa cannot..." Lajjun said her voice hitching slightly. Riddick patted Ziza's hair, and she smiled sadly at him her head resting on his shoulder.

"I...I saw his grave. I found Kyra, but...She's dead, and I buried her nearby."

Lajjun looked up at him, and clasped a hand over her mouth in sorrow. "I'm so sorry. I remember her when she was a young one, so eager for life..." she said with a sorrowful sigh. "Please, rest, I have some tea."

Riddick nodded his head in thanks, and sat down holding Ziza while gesturing to Vaako with his free hand. "This is my traveling companion, Vaako," he said.

Lajjun smiled and inclined her head to him. "I would be honored if you sit with us."

Vaako looked uncertainly at Riddick, before accepting. "Thank you," he said sitting down, still alert to danger. Soon, Lajjun was back with a chipped tea pitcher, and three cups, two for her guests.

"Lajjun, I came back for you and Ziza," Riddick said quietly, now that the little girl on his shoulder had fallen asleep. "We should leave as soon as you can pack."

Lajjun looked up with a smile. "I thought you might be here for something like that. Though I appreciate you looking out for us, this is our home."

"I understand how you must feel, but there's nothing left for you here. You should come with me, so you can settle down and make a new start."

"But that's what we're doing, Riddick. We've begun to rebuild our former glory, to perhaps exceed the splendor that New Mecca once was..."

"It'll be years before they're finished here. You can come back when it's done. Look, I didn't want to bother you with details, but there won't be any more attacks here, or anywhere. The Lord Marshal is dead, and they won't move without my permission."

Lajjun stared at him with wide eyes, teacup forgotten in her grip. "So it was true then. You are the Furyan that was prophesied to kill the Lord Marshal. It is over then."

Riddick glanced at Vaako, who kept his head down, intently staring at his tea. "Yeah, it's over. So come with me. Maybe with you to help convince them, I can even get these people some help rebuilding."

She frowned, and shook her head gently. "No, Riddick, the people wish to rebuild with their own hands, not the enemy's. And my place is here helping my people. Ziza will get an education she will never forget of our history," she said with a distant look in her eyes. She smiled then, looking at the strong man holding her little girl.

"Imam would be proud of you, looking out for us, for remembering your word. But your future is to lead the large army that caused so much pain. It's to you to lead them to the right fate now. But, please, stay for a time. I'm sure Ziza has much to tell you, and I'd enjoy having company."

Riddick sighed and looked at the little head on his shoulder, then at Vaako. "Sure. We'll stay for a while."

~~~

Vaako stared over the bustle, the camaraderie among the New Mecca people setting his mind a whirl. He slowly became aware of a presence at his back, and spoke to the Lord Marshal. "They were nearly destroyed, yet they rebuild, stronger than when they were taken down."

"Tragedy has a way of uniting people. Besides, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Vaako smiled at the words and nodded. "As you say. Will we be leaving this evening?" During the day, Ziza attached herself to Riddick dragging him to see everything she could think of. Lajjun had showed them their progress, and future plans. The people's resilience was impressive.

"Yeah, I'll say my good-bye's after dinner, before Ziza goes to bed. I made sure there's some people to look after them, and I'll come around. But it's time we got back."

Vaako raised a brow, and turned to look at Riddick. "Perhaps I'm mistaken, but you seem eager to return to a duty you loathe."

Riddick rolled his head around and leaned against the wall. "Yeah, well I've been thinking about it, and I've decided to roll with it. There's definitely going to be some changes, but having my own army could be useful...And fun."