Just the Beginning

Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, I make no money off of this fic, so please don't sue.


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A large suns' light beams glinted off of Basilica's hull, the impressive ship hanging motionless in the void of space. Fighters scrambled out of her belly to provide an escort for the Lord Marshal's return.

When Riddick stepped off of the ship the former Lord Marshal's advisors stood in line, waiting for his attention before bombarding him with questions. The kiss-up of the group, Advisor Taalh, stepped forward his voice overriding the others.

"Lord Marshal, it is good to see you returned to us so quickly. I am Advisor Taalh. Perhaps, now that you have returned from your trip, you're ready to converse with us on the matters of your dominion, my Lord?"

Riddick smirked and looked behind his shoulder at Vaako, who silently came to stand at his back. Advisor Taalh stared at Vaako's head before clearing his throat and returning his gaze to the Lord Marshal.

"Of course as you see, perhaps a change in your advisory council is needed. Commander Vaako, I'm sure, would be better suited to the command of your army rather than your Right-hand. I myself would be honored to advise you in all the matters you please, my Lord."

Vaako tensed beside Riddick, and his hazel eyes icing over at the advisor's disrespect. Riddick eyed the group of simpering fools, and bared his teeth in a parody of a smile.

"I'm sure you have it all planned out in your head. There are going to be many changes," he said as the man puffed up, thinking it'd be fun to wipe the overconfidence off his face. "As of now, all of you are dismissed. I have a new council to appoint with Commander Vaako as my Right-hand," he said gesturing to Vaako to follow as he walked out on the stunned advisors.

"Vaako."

"Yes, my Lord?" Riddick shot him a look, and he glanced around before lowering his voice to only be heard by him. "It would signal mutinous disrespect on my part to address you by your name. In private, I will disregard the formality if you wish."

Riddick grunted and made his way down the corridor. "Fine. For right now, we can start by you showing me to my room. And make me that list of men you wanted to accompany me, I seem to have a new advisory board to make. And what was up with you and Advisor Taalh?" he asked, his instincts prickling at the hatred in the mans eyes when he looked at Vaako.

"Taalh was the former Lord Marshal's Chief Advisor before I made my way up through the ranks, and was hand picked to be his Right-hand. He has harbored resentment against me since then, so I ignore him as much as possible. I shall have the list of advisory candidates for you quickly. Is there anything else you need, my Lord?" he asked as they stopped in front of the Lord Marshal's chambers.

Riddick keyed the door open and looked around as Vaako pressed the lights control. The room was spartan, chairs surrounding a long desk against one side of the room, data pads stacked on the surface. A sitting area contained a large tall-backed chair, with divans and large cushions surrounding it. Another side contained a table and chair, apparently for dining. Riddick moved through another wall section, and came to a division, the room to the right containing a huge bed in the center, headboard against the far wall. To the side was a large wardrobe area, the former Lord Marshal's clothes hanging in neat rows. Riddick backed out of the room, and turned to the right, entering a spacious room, a sunken marbled bathing area gleaming in the center. Several poles of differing heights held wide spouts at the top. To the side of the bathing area was a smaller section, two poles with rails to the side, and a small section of rotating floor.

He turned and strode to the first room where Vaako waited patiently for him to inspect the rooms. "So tell me about what he did here. Any wild, kinky shit?" he asked smirking as Vaako faintly raised an eyebrow, and walked to the sitting area.

"Nothing of the sort. Everything was cleaned daily, from the bed clothes to the flooring. The former Lord Marshal never tolerated any type of mess. Here he was fond of having private meetings, often only with me and several others present, his confidantes. He enjoyed to look out at the stars, often saying it would all be his, I suppose feeling quite omnipotent," he explained as he lightly touched the end of the armrest, a faint clank and whirring sound signaling the plated armor outside the viewport rising.

Riddick tilted his head and whistled softly at the impressive view. "Not bad."

Vaako continued the tour, leaving the first room to the bathing area. "Here he had his personal servants bath and oil him before fitting his clothes on. Though he seemed metaphysical at times, he enjoyed the same tactile pleasures anyone of flesh would."

Vaako led him to the bedroom, gesturing to the large wardrobe. "And these were his clothes. If you wish, I can have the tailors alter them to fit you."

Riddick snorted and shook his head. "No way am I'm putting that shit on. In fact I think it's time for a whole new look," he said looking pointedly at the armor Vaako had donned after they left the planet. "Have the tailors sent to my room, we need to talk about my threads, and yours. And I don't care if everything was cleaned, I want new furniture, though keep the layout "

"It isn't necessary to change my attire," Vaako began, a longsuffering sigh escaping him, "but if it is what you wish..."

"Not only you. Your whole people are depressing as hell. I think the army can get away with the suits, but my Right-hand, and my advisors, need to look normal, none of that weird robe shit the former advisors were wearing."

"Yes, as you wish, Riddick. Was there anything else?"

"Yeah, there are a few things, actually. With all this fancy technology, I want to make some changes with the lighting in here...In the whole ship actually."

"I understand you wish to be comfortable in your environment, but surely you can't expect everyone to walk around in darkness?" Vaako asked, concerned about what Riddick was planning.

"I'll see what happens.. And I want the layout of every ship, labeled and marked."

"They will be provided right away. Was there any other pressing matters that you wished addressed?"

Riddick looked up, and a murderous look transforming him from menacing to downright lethal. "Yeah, one last thing we need to take care of, that I personally want to watch."

Vaako tensed, for some time expecting some type of vengeance from the man wronged by his people, to seeing it stare him in the face. "And what would that be?" he said softly, trying to remain calm as Riddick strode into his personal space.

"I have a bone to pick with some disgusting mothers holed up on the ship. They've got to go." At Vaako's blank look, he leaned in close, noses almost touching. "Right, you weren't there. But I'm sure you'll know what I mean. Screaming banshees, in the habit of violating someone's mind, digging where they don't belong."

Vaako's eyes narrowed, his voice low in the face of Riddick's fury. "The Quasi-Deads. I...heard that former Lord Marshal used them on you, but everyone was shocked at how you broke free of them. No one has been strong enough to resist their probes."

"Yeah well, their probing days are over. Have them ejected into the sun, let them burn."

"Riddick...I know you may not think so now, but they have proved useful to the former Lord Marshal. You may perhaps find a way to use them."

"Nothing they could tell me would be enough. Besides your formal 'Lord Marshal' had no sense. No instincts, no perception other than what was laid at his feet. He didn't even suspect you of betrayal, yet you plotted to kill him by his side."

Vaako looked as if to say something, but at the look on Riddick's face, he glanced away then back his face suddenly blank. "When do you wish to view the purging of the Quasi-Deads?"

Riddick stared at him, stared into him, for what seemed like eternity before answering. "Today. I want them gone."

Vaako nodded and turned on his heel, thoughts cataloging his orders from the Lord Marshal, in order to have them carried out.

"Vaako."

Vaako stopped at the door his head angled to listen.

"You may not agree with me on everything, and I'll admit, I like things going my way or not at all. But that doesn't mean you can't say your piece. I don’t want a mindless drone at my side, I want to see that fire in you now and then. Just don't make the mistake of judging me."

Vaako looked over his shoulder and met his goggle covered eyes with a nod, the door sliding shut behind his back.

~~~

Vaako made his way back to the Lord Marshal's chambers, data pads in hand. The list of men he felt would make exceptional advisors to the council, the layouts requested, and the order for the Quasi-Deads grotto to be collected and purged had taken a little time to prepare. When he announced his presence, the door slid open. He walked in to see Riddick speaking with several mecha men, at his desk. They were inputting data into their pads furiously, nodding their heads at every other word.

"We shall work on it right away, Lord Marshal. We should have the light frequency at the proper level within several days, and your quarters will be outfitted in such. Then it shouldn't take long to implement your plans into each ship," the lead mecha said.

"Good. Go, get started."

The men bowed and scuffled out, murmuring excitedly. They, besides the meds, were the only group known to get excited about any technology they perceived a challenge.

"I see your meeting with the mechas went well," Vaako said as he placed several data pads in Riddick's reach.

"Yeah, they were eager to please."

"May I inquire what you are planning in regards to the lighting?" Riddick sat back in his seat and grabbed one of the layout pads, pausing before he answered.

"I don't feel like walking around with these goggles on all the time. The mechas are going to devise a light frequency that allows me to see without the goggles. You'll be able to see with no problem, but it won't effect my night-vision implants either. And for off base, they're going to fashion glasses that restructure any kind of light, filtering it to the same frequency." Vaako nodded in approval, thinking it would be good for the Lord Marshal to be as comfortable in his home as possible.

"Were you pleased when the Quasi-Deads grotto was ejected?" he asked as he watched the man scroll down the information.

"I'm glad they're gone. The more I do, the more the ship feels like home." Riddick said with a smirk. Vaako sighed in relief to see him so relaxed, and settled himself, a tense fist in his chest unclenching.

"Did your meeting with the tailors meet your satisfaction?"

Riddick nodded absently as he looked over the data pad of men Vaako had listed. It also included descriptions of their service, and a personal note of his experience with each man. "Yeah, they'll be bringing my new clothes soon. I told them to have some made for you too," he said chuckling at Vaako's resigned nod. "These men look fine. I want you to schedule a meeting tomorrow so I can see them myself. And I want to see the army in training."

"As you say. Riddick, the...Elemental...asked if she would be allowed an audience with you. I had the guards keep her locked away until you decided what you wanted to do with her."

Riddick looked up with a raised eyebrow. "Why, I'd say you don’t seem to like her, Vaako," he said with a chuckle at the look of distaste on the mans face. "Eh, let her free. She can roam the ship for right now, just keep an eye on her. And grant her audience for tomorrow. I'll see what she has to say."

"As you wish."

"Ya know, you only say that when its something you don't agree with me about." Vaako smirked slightly, tilting his head to the side.

"Really? I hadn't noticed. Is there anything else needed at this time?"

"Nah. Did you eat yet?"

"No, I've been busy attending different matters."

"Good, you'll eat with me."

"I'd be honored," he said as they moved to the dining area. Riddick touched the chair panel on his way past, and the armor slid back to allow the stars in as they sat to eat.

"So how's your wife? She keeps coming by to see if I need anything," Riddick said, watching bemusedly as Vaako hastily swallowed his food before choking on it.

"She's fine. She asks about you every time I see her. If you hadn't remained so busy at this time, I'm sure you would see her your every waking moment." Riddick raised his eyebrow with a grunt as he ate.

"And that doesn’t bother you?"

Vaako took a careful bite as he weighed how much to tell him of his failed marriage. He thought he might as well also including the Necromonger society way in his telling. Perhaps the Lord Marshal would take a liking to Dame Vaako, or one of the other women...

"Dame Vaako and I married after I had been appointed as the former Lord Marshal's Right-hand. I looked at her and knew her drive, the ambition behind her beauty, but blinded myself to it. After all, my position may have drawn her to me, but I was drawn to the fact that I had most beautiful of the socialite women, status being important in the elite of society to Necromongers. We were pleased enough in the beginning, myself, having the best of the best, Dame Vaako, being married to the Right-hand of the Lord Marshal, one step from the top," he paused remembering a time when things weren't so bad between them. Even if they weren't motivated by such an emotion as love.

Riddick sat still, interested in the story the Commander told, his mind eye seeing a glimpse of a side of the Necromongers he hadn't really known.

"Eventually that wasn't enough. She wanted absolute power, she wanted--wants to be at the top, not one step down. At one point she began working on the Lord Marshal, but he had no interest in her. So she bided her time, and I allowed my doubts about our current leader to be played upon. The thought of ridding the people of an unworthy ruler was whispered in my ear at every turn. And I...Her beauty is magnificent, but eventually even that couldn't cover the conniving mind within. Though we are married in name, she has not been my wife for years," he said before he lifted his head, eyes falling on Riddick's face.

"But for you, she would be what she was meant to be, she would be extraordinary again. You have what she wants, the power, strength, that untamed feral quality. I have no stake in her anymore, if you wished to pursue her, I wouldn't stand in your way."

Riddick sat back with his legs spread wide, sipping from the large goblet as he studied Vaako. The man was serious...Yet, perhaps it wasn't just the wife that found something desirable about his 'qualities...'

"So you'd let me go at her, no hard feelings?" Riddick asked, still not entirely believing the man would have no objection.

"Yes. As I said I no longer--"

"--have a stake in her, right. So why don't you divorce her?"

Vaako shrugged and stared out at the stars glittering light-years away. "I have no reason to. She doesn't want her reputation to change, and I felt it didn't matter if she had my name or not. So we stayed together, as we would have to site a reason to the Purifier to separate us."

"Yeah, well she's not really my type, even if she does smell good. I don't know how you stood for her going after other men, but maybe you really don't care... Though I guess this was my first lesson in Necromonger society. We could even tie this back to that Taalh guy, the whole status thing."

Vaako smirked as Riddick stood and wandered around the room. "Well you should learn why your people act in a certain manner. You'll be better prepared to deal with certain situations as you come across them." He watched as Riddick lounged on the divan and thought perhaps it was time to call the evening to an end...Though he did enjoy being around the straightforward man.

"I thank you for the meal, Riddick, but I should return to my quarters. I will have the meeting scheduled, and your audience with Aereon set, as well as the warrior inspection as you stated."

"Sounds like a plan. Why don't you come for breakfast tomorrow for an early start." Vaako stood with a nod, and walked to the exit.

"Goodnight," he said. There was no reply, just the weight of Riddick's gaze on his back.