Dimensions

I lost the pretty reviews. : ( But I'll remember the kind words, so thank you to those sent feedback! And thanks to aubree for giving me the heads up! : )
Sorry, this part is a little short too, but the story will move on at a pretty good pace. I think... : D Hope you enjoy this next part!

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_ Part Two ~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~


"What do you know about this Threshold?" Riddick asked Aereon. She was freed from the start of his reign, and decided to stay with him and see what would become of the Necromongers.

Riddick stood silently at the small viewport in her chambers, watching the ice shards that trailed in Basilica's wake. She remained seated at her dining table, hands loosely clasped in her lap.

The Furyan had settled quickly into Necromonger life. Their violent and ruthless temperament seemed to suit his convict hardened nature. Though there had been attempts to overthrow him, he had dispatched each offender in a very painful but efficient manner. Aggressively letting his subjects know he lost none of his killer instincts in the transition in becoming the new Lord Marshall.

Riddick had kept Vaako in place as the First, but disregarded most of the advisors except for two. Crisis, an intelligent no-nonsense military commander, and Eon, an older Necromonger, with vast experience of communications and ship systems. He was also the only one that blatantly expressed his opinion to Riddick, whether he wanted to hear it or not, especially when he thought Riddick was wrong. Something the Furyan couldn't help but respect. Riddick let Vaako handle many of the other matters, but set out to learn about the routine duties with a driven focus that was a surprise to many. Riddick made sure he wouldn't be left in the dark in anything about the new army he acquired. He would rule with a tight grip on matters.

If some Necros took him for a simpleton they were sorely mistaken, and sometimes fatally so. He might have been educated in the Penal system, but he always was a quick learner, an essential quality for survival.

He gained the soldiers respect first, by fighting the best they had to offer, hand-to-hand. Beating them, with some effort because the Necro warriors were good, hardy fighters, so thoroughly he commanded their respect. Some pointers from Vaako of the mindset most of the warriors held, and he dominated, the men becoming willing to lay their lives down for him as well as the 'Faith.' The latter he didn't make a big deal over. He didn't think this 'Faith' stuff was going to last long while he was in charge. But the Necros held it close to them, so he'd have to show them a different way.

That left the society Necros. They began to settle down as their more action-prone rebellious counterparts started to disappear, realizing they wouldn't be rid of him so easily. Dame Vaako stuck at her husband's side and made eyes his way, subtly flirting. She had something churning in that brain of hers, and he wondered what she was waiting for. He was entertained, but unmoved by her great performance. Ironically, it was her eager-to-please husband that intrigued him.

Vaako was a study all on his own. Deep loyalty, almost to a fault, to the Faith and Necromonger way. Sharp intelligence. Cunning, and skilled. A man who had seen a lot of shit in his life. But there was still something almost...innocent...about him. Not virgin-bride, or unseasoned warrior innocence. Riddick observed a more, child-like curiosity in him. A desire to be in the middle of things so he doesn't miss anything type of bearing. The same curiosity that had drawn him to find out about him. Aereon told him about Vaako and Dame Vaako researching him, but he noticed Vaako's piqued interest the first time their eyes met.

"I don't know much more than you. Just that the first Lord Marshall found a portal and looked in it. Whatever he saw made him begin a crusade to have all life join him there, or die. Only the Lord Marshall may look into the Underverse, and his successor may accompany him, but not through the portal. No one knows exactly what happens then, but the Lord Marshall's always return with powers," she said, rising to stand beside him.

"So you don't know what we'll find."

"You don't have to follow the tradition if you do not choose to, Riddick. As the new Lord Marshall, you have disregarded many of their ways already," Aereon pointed out.

One of the first things he did was abolish the mandatory Purification process. Now any they took would have a choice. Those who currently underwent the process no longer had to. The Purifier's face turning purple at the decree was a source of great amusement to Riddick.

The one thing he hadn't done was take revenge upon the Necros. Even he knew that it would start trouble if he just started killing people at random. Unless they attacked him first. Then he had no problem defending himself as he saw fit.

"There are other matters that should concern you as well. The mercenaries will not forget what you have done. They might ally themselves together in face of your army and come after you."

"I've already sent scout ships to watch them. Vaako briefed me on the status of my army, and it looks like we took some losses. The ranks need to be replenished before we do anything big. I'm thinking I'll stop at this Threshold and take a look so Vaako will get off my back."

Aereon smiled knowingly. Her body wavered when Riddick turned, his cloak sending a gust of wind through her.

"I think you are more curious about what was seen, than eager to keep the peace."

A smirk accompanied the two-finger salute he gave her, and once again she was left alone in her chambers with thoughts and calculations.

*

"We're coming about to the Threshold, my Lord. Your orders?" Vaako asked, standing beside the Lord Marshall.

When Riddick remained silent, Vaako glanced over to find him staring at the viewport. The view outside was stunning. Little rivers of energy twisted and twined together, like a dance of bright, lithe creatures against the darkness of space. A shocking array of color made the small gray Necromonger fortress stand out. The very top of the triangular portal could be seen above the fortress.

Riddick forced himself to turn away from the entrancing sight, suddenly more aware his heartbeat seemed to be in cadence with each pulse of the energy currents.

"The Basilica can fall back. We'll take your frigate down to the gate," Riddick said, striding from the room. He felt a strong urge to get to see the portal itself.

Vaako quickly relayed orders, and set after the Lord Marshall, eager to get to the gate himself.

The frigate was soon on the gate dock, surrounded by soldiers and the Guardian of the gate. When Riddick stepped off the ramp, their weapons never wavered, even when Vaako stepped off behind him.

The Guardian gracefully strode forward, his white hair and weathered face belied his quiet strength. He bowed shortly at the waist and straightened to stand at attention.

"Welcome, Lord Marshall."

"Guardian. Allow me passage through the gate, so I may lead us to the Underverse, in faith, honor, and duty until death," Riddick intoned. Vaako had informed him the slightest mishap and they would be shot immediately. It was the way the first Lord Marshall set it up so that no one could just stroll through. He thought the ceremonial words were pretty dumb, but whatever got him through the gate.

"Let your leadership flourish and lead us to glory, Lord Marshall," the Guardian replied. The soldiers snapped to attention, their weapons held at standby.

"Follow me, my Lord." Riddick fell in step behind the older man, Vaako bringing up the rear. They stepped through the double doors into a hall, rooms to the left and right, stairs winding up to each side of the small fortress.

"Do the soldiers stay here forever?" Riddick asked Vaako as they trailed behind the Guardian.

"No, my Lord. The soldiers are on rotation after a specific amount of time. I was once stationed here, myself. Only the Guardian remains. And as he ages, he trains someone to take his place."

They soon came to the end of the hall, and turned to the right, through an ornate door into a chamber with a bed and bathing chambers through a door to the side. A table with food was against the other wall.

"That is the entrance to the portal's walkway, my Lord," the Guardian said, pointing to another door at the far wall, pausing as he studied the new Lord Marshall. He found Riddick wasn't like the others at all, and at his age, he dared say so.

"You're not like the others."

Riddick stopped and looked at him, the goggles making his expression unreadable.

"No."

The Guardian studied him for a moment, and again bowed at the waist.

"No, not at all. I hope you find your path, my Lord." With that he turned and left the room. Riddick turned to Vaako, who shrugged with a raised eyebrow.

Riddick turned and walked around the room, unconsciously making note of the entrances and exits.

"What's this room for?" Riddick asked as he stood in front of the table, scanning the variety of food.

"Sometimes the trip is...taxing...on the Lord Marshall's who have gone through the portal. This was so that they may return and rest without being seen in a weak state on their return. Some have stayed several days to recover," Vaako said glancing about the room as he explained.

"Hmm. Well I'm ready. You coming?"

Vaako shook his head and gestured to the door. "My part of the ritual was over when we flew here and I turned my back to the viewport. Now, I wait for your return."

Riddick nodded and reached up to the unclasp his cloak, laying it over a chair at the dining table. Clothed in a sleeveless torso-hugging armored top, black pants and sturdy boots, Riddick looked nothing like the highly decorated Lord Marshall's before him, the only thing standing out was the embellished cloak he just removed.

"See you when I get back," he said. He opened the door to the walkway and didn't hesitate to step through.

Light was everywhere, making him glad he hadn't removed his goggles. He stopped as the door clicked shut behind him, staring at the impressive display. The portal's entrance was a large triangular shaped doorway, the metal gleaming with various colors from the energy streams. He measured the portal to be about double his height and width. The metal doorway framed the pitch black portal, and no light reflected on it, or came from within.

Riddick started forward at a quick clip and was at the portal in a minute, stopping just shy of contact. Taking a breath, he reached out and touched the surface, palm flat, fingers splayed. A ripple jumped from where his hand touched, spreading outward until it reached the doorway.

Suddenly the glass-like surface was like a black mirror, reflecting him and nothing else. Then his reflection started to glow gold, the pulse he felt in tune with the energy streams returned, the glow flaring and retreating in a rhythm. Blinking when it suddenly stopped, he looked up and realized that he could see the fortress through the portal. Removing his hand as a tingle ran through it, he turned and looked behind him.

Stars. Millions of stars studded in the darkness, like he was standing in space with no suit, or ship between him and it. Comets raced by here and there, creating a warm glow. Hesitantly he pulled off his goggles, and relaxed when the light didn't affect his eyes. Then he noticed the nebula below his feet, and had to fight dizziness at the vertigo he felt looking down into endless space.

The nebula drifted closer and shrank in size until it hovered in front of him, not much bigger than he was. It suddenly pulsed and started to transform into a form...A woman's form. When she solidified with a warm luminescence emanating from her, Riddick half-stepped forward in recognition.

"So you've finally arrived Richard. I've been waiting for you."