Predator

Chapter 33

Riddick found himself with wrist and ankle restraints led by the 5 mercs to the sled that would take them to the interior of the underground prison. They slammed him down on his back and secured him in a lying position to the sled. Four of them took the seats while the loud mouth perched himself on Riddick’s abdomen.

“Comfy?” He asked as the sled was propelled in to motion down the tracks. “When the ride’s over…” The merc said, licked two fingers and rubbed them over the dark lenses covering Riddick’s eyes. “…your goggles are mine.”

Riddick kept his eyes focused on the overhead lights that passed periodically along the tunnel. He tapped his boot in a steady beat that timed each passing of a hanging light fixture. When the next one was set to pass, he arched his back raising the merc higher in the air and the light slammed into his head knocking him from the speeding sled.

Toombs glanced back a few seconds later. His brow knitted in confusion when he noticed his team member missing. He looked down at Riddick who just shrugged nonchalantly and turned back with a smile. “Four way split!”

~*~

The Alphas joined their respective leaders on the Ariana Command Carriers and they were soon underway. Alex sat in the Captain’s chair with Charlemagne and Curchulain on either side of her. “Get us into slipstream and jump us to the invasion point.” She yelled at the helmsman.

“Yes, my Lady.”

She punched some controls on the armrest of her chair and activated communications amongst the ships. “Okay people, this is it. We are set to enter slipstream and within minutes we will reach the invading armada. Remember this is your territory that we are fighting for before you think about questioning the orders of your superiors. You are Nietzcheans and you were bred for survival. Are you ready?”

She received shouts of support through all the open comms channels. “That was a rousing speech, my dear.”

“Charlemagne, bite me.” She barked in frustration. The tension of what was coming was starting to settle into her mind and fighting without her full power left her aggravated.

“You just let me know where, my darling, and I would be happy to oblige.”

She rolled her eyes and opened a channel directly to her family. “Tyr, is everything a go?”

“Yes, my love.”

“Rhade, how about you?”

“I’m ready, baby.”

She could hear Tyr growl over the open comm and shook her head. “Jesse, baby, is everything good with you?”

“I’ve got it under control, mom.”

“Okay.” She exhaled a sigh. “Let’s get this shit over with. Enter slipstream!” With her shout, all of the fleet entered the stream and navigated for several minutes in perfect unison before the sensors buzzed the approach of their exit point. “Exiting slipstream in three, two, and one.”

They emerged from the wormhole one after the other and resumed normal speed to the coordinates she supplied to the fleet. As they neared their target, they found themselves in the presence of an invasion party of some two thousand ships. “Shit. This is going to suck.” She mumbled to herself. “Let’s do this people.” Within moments her wave of ships had engaged the enemy in a firefight.

~*~

Within moments Riddick’s ankle restraints were removed and a wench was lowering him by his wrist restraints into the bowels of the prison. He looked around at the convicts that were slamming various objects on cages and pipes to herald the arrival of fresh meat. His decent was abruptly stopped halfway when he heard the guards arguing with Toombs over the price on Riddick’s head. The wench was started again when the warden pulled the lever.

“I’d take the money, Toombs.”

The conflict continued above and the wench was halted by the mercs once again. Riddick was far enough down that he could be reached by other prisoners two of which were eyeing his new black boots like a prize. He pulled his body up so that his bound wrists were now below his head and the rope was secured between his legs. He let his body swing down to build up momentum and wrapped the rope around his waist with a twist. He swung himself two more times and then released his hold on the rope so that he spun downward unwrapping himself with enough force that the chain between his cuffs snapped when it hit the clasp of the rope.

He landed squarely on his feet and turned to meet the first convict that rushed him. He deflected the pipe that was swung at him with his left arm, drove his right elbow up into his chin, and used his own tattered clothing to snap his neck. As the first dropped away, the second jumped down towards Riddick and found his throat caught in a powerful left hand. He suplexed him over his head and body slammed him to the ground.

More convicts were pouring out of the surrounding holes that led into deeper caverns below. One ran up on Riddick from behind until a chain wrapped around his neck and violently yanked him back by the throat until he lay motionless on the ground. Riddick turned to follow the motion of the chain back to its owner as she wrapped it around her hand and elbow.

He took off his goggled and stared at the young woman with the familiar face as another man began to speak. “There are inmates…” He glanced away from her to look at the man talking. “…and there are convicts. A convict has a certain code.” He descended the stairs that brought him Riddick’s level. “And he knows to show a certain respect.” Riddick glanced back to find the young woman had disappeared. “An inmate, on the other hand, pulls the pin on his fellow man. Does the guards’ work for them…brings shame…” He walked up to a recovering victim of Riddick’s and kicked him in the face returning him to darkness. “…to the game. So, which are you gonna be?”

“Me?” He pulled his goggles back into place. “I’m just passin’ through.” He walked past the men and disappeared into the direction the woman had been standing.

“Welcome to Crematoria.” The Guv said shaking his head at the new arrival.

Riddick walked into a cell looking around when he suddenly felt a pair of blades pressing into his lower back. “Should I go for the sweet spot? Left of the spine, fourth lumbar down, the abdominal aorta.” He heard her hiss his familiar words from years past back to him. “What a gusher.” He lifted his goggles to his forehead and turned his head to the side to look at her over his shoulder. “How do I get eyes like that?”

“You gotta kill a few people.”

She gasped out a chuckle. “Did that.” She pushed the twin blades further into his skin until it bit his flesh. “Did a lot of that.”

He spun towards her, grabbing her hands, swung her back in the bars and held her arms over her head. “And then you gotta get sent to a slam.”

“One where they tell you you’ll never see daylight again?” She glared into his shined eyes. “Only there wasn’t any doctor here who could shine my eyes, not even for 20 menthol Kools. Was there anything you said that was true?”

He took his free arm, grabbed the bar that ran between her legs, and lifted her off her feet by her crotch resting on his forearm. The act of his aggressive move forced a gasp from her lips. “What are you gonna do, huh?” She whispered with a little less conviction when she stared into his angry eyes. “Go for the sweet spot?”

“Remember who you’re talkin’ to, Jack.”

She turned her face away from his penetrating stare. “Jack’s dead.” A piece of jagged glass appeared from the inside of her cheek and she held it between her left molars. “She was weak.” She let the tip slip past her lips as her eyes focused on a light fixture to her right. “She couldn’t cut it.” Her leg snapped out and shattered the light causing it flash with sparks. Riddick clenched his eyes against the blinding flash and she quickly turned her head cutting his cheek with the shard.

He released her and reeled back from the light and the sting in his face. When he glanced around she was gone from the cell. His eyes settled on her outside holding the railings of a catwalk. “The name’s Kyra now.” She stood and cocked her head at him. “And I’m a new animal now.”

With that said she jumped over the side of the catwalk and disappeared from his sight. He watched her departing form with an odd look of regret on his face, reached up to wipe the blood on his cheek, and turned his gaze upwards at the sounds of snarling.

~* ~

Alex’s plan was to use one wave of her fleet to fight the enemy fighters until she made headway or her supply of ships were about to be depleted. Either way the next wave would move into action as soon as one of those two things occurred. The Jaguar-Sabra and Drago-Katsov had the largest fleets amongst the Nietzchean Prides but they were also the ones hit hardest by the Necro advance group so several of their ships were busy defending their home worlds.

Her fleet was suffering major losses amongst the Nietzcheans. She could clearly see her own warriors from home were better pilots. Charlemagne noticed that she visibly tensed and flinched whenever a Nietzchean ship was destroyed. He drew Curchulain’s attention and they watched the Angel of Death grieve for each Nietzchean life that was lost. Then she issued an order that surprised them further.

“Open comms!”

“Comms open, my Lady.”

“Attention all Ariana fighters! I want every single one of you to break formation and ride wingman to a Nietzchean fighter! Do not leave a single ship alone! Ariana captains, move your gunships and cruisers to the outer perimeter and draw fire away from the other cruisers! Am I clear?”

“Aye, my Lady!” A chorus of voices rang through the open channels.

The two Alphas watched in awe as her fighters moved into position to take the brunt of the fire that was directed at the ships. The shields on the Ariana fighters were strong enough to deflect a majority of the phaser fire but not all. Several of her ships were being crippled or destroyed by the enemy.

“Why are you doing this?” She didn’t avert her gaze from the view screen as Curchulain questioned her motives. “Your fighters are better and your pilots are superior to ours but your order has put them at greater risk. It would be more prudent to keep your people fighting their own fight than to go down in defense of our ships.”

“How is it more prudent, Curchulain?” She said in a sad tone. “The whole purpose for my involvement is to ensure the survival of the Nietzchean race. How am I supposed to accomplish that when your people are dying at every turn out there?”

“But…”

“There is nothing you could say to change my mind so please stop distracting me.” She cut him off and opened a channel to Tyr’s carrier. “Mr. Anasazi?”

“Yes, Mrs. Anasazi?”

“Bring in your fleet. Come up on the left flank and make sure each Nietzchean ship has an Ariana wingman.”

“On my way, my love.”

She closed the comm and sat back in her chair slowly rubbing her forehead with her right hand. Her people were dying and she was powerless to stop it. The anger pricked beneath her skin and she felt her inner power fight to be freed. It was a huge internal war to keep the Phoenix at bay and she knew she was fighting at least one losing battle.

~*~

Riddick was washing the grime and dirt from his skin under a waterfall that poured from a broken pipe. He was startled awake by a nightmare from his past that left him feeling dirty to the core of his being. He recalled a man in armor approaching from the shadows and the sound of a baby crying. ‘Me?’

He continued bathing fully clothed while Kyra watched from a distance. He grabbed his goggles from a nearby pipe, placed them back over his eyes, and ran his fingers over the cut she left on his cheek. He turned to stare at her with his hand still covering the wound.

“Still here I see?” He turned to look at the Guv. “I’ve been here 18 years. See this?” He showed Riddick a silver wedding band hidden beneath his fingerless gloves. “I remember how gorgeous she was. Well, gorgeous in a certain light. And now, for the goddamn death of me, I cannot remember her name.”

“Feeding time!” One of the guards yelled out and the inmates scrambled for the safety of their cells.

“We’re here for the rest of our unnatural lives.” The Guv smiled and tilted his head before he started to seek shelter. “Whatever you do, don’t make eye contact.”

The large alien cats were released into the prison population and searched out for their meal of the day. Prisoners were clamoring for cover and fighting with each other to reach the safety of cell. One of the cat’s came across Kyra on one of gangplanks. When it lunged for her, she jumped off the side, catching a rope, and slid down to a lower level.

A few of the convicts weren’t so lucky. They were caught out in the open and feasted upon while other prisoners watched on in horror. One cat had caught a scent and followed it through the water that was cascading from the pipes. He growled and shook the water from his scaly skin like it was fur as he continued his search for a meal.

Riddick stood up against the wall behind the curtain of water and removed his goggles as the giant cat’s head emerged through the fall. When it spotted Riddick it growled low in its throat and turned from its normal gray color to a dark red. One set of shined eyes met another and Riddick brought his face closer to the large animal staring it down.

The Guv came around the corner still safely behind the bars of a nearby cage and looked on in awe at the sight before him. The cat was back to his gray color and seated before Riddick while he pat his scaly back and chin. It was purring. An alarm buzzed that signaled the animals to return to their handlers and the cat turned away from Riddick. As he passed the Guv’s cage, he turned Red and snarled violently at the man before he continued on his way. The Guv looked at Riddick in amazement.

“It’s an animal thing.”

Kyra had her hands up in surrender while the guards backed her into a cell. She turned and placed her hands against the wall. “Check her for me. She’s always got a blade somewhere.” One of the guards kicked her feet further apart and began to pat her down. She turned her head in disgust at his lecherous groping of her body. When his hand squeezed her ass and moved to dip into the waistband below her navel, she triggered a release on a double-spiked blade that extended from her boot heel. “Hyah!”

She drove it into his groin and he groaned from the agony. He doubled over when she imbedded it in his chest. She brought her legs up behind her, wrapped her ankles behind his neck and spun him around when she twisted her body. He dropped his club during the sudden attack, which she quickly picked up and swung at his head and chest before she caught him spinning back kick that sent him sailing from her cell.

The guards stared at the corpse at the feet in shock for a moment before they rushed into her cell and attacked her. She fought them off for a while with some impressive kicks and punches before they subdued her. One hit her on the back of the head and staggered her before he threw her to the ground outside of her cell. He straddled her backside, slid his bar under throat, and pulled her back with it crushing into her windpipe.

“I don’t think she likes being touched.” They looked up and saw Riddick leaning against the wall with a cup in his hand. “I’d take my wounded and go while you still can.”

One of the three remaining guards released his grip on Kyra leaving her gasping for breath on the floor and stood to face Riddick. “Is there a name for this private little world of yours, huh?” The three of them moved closer holding their mallets and the stupidly brave one continued to talk shit to Riddick. “What happens there when we don’t just run away? You’ll kill us…with a soup cup?”

Kyra pulled herself to her feet by holding on to the cell bars and turned to watch the drama unfold. The guards started to laugh.

“Tea, actually?” He took a sip from his cup.

“What’s that?”

“I’ll kill you with my teacup.” He held it up for the guards to see clearly before he placed it upside down on a rock between them.

The mouthy guard turned smiling at the other two. “You know the rule. They aren’t dead if they’re still on the books.” One whispered to him. He pulled a knife from his belt and turned to rush Riddick. Kyra started forward but stopped when Riddick grabbed the teacup, slammed it down on the rock until it made the rim jagged metal, and drove it into the guard’s chest twisting it into his heart.

He pushed the dead man back and fell to the ground at his companions’ feet. The knife fell from his lifeless hand. The two remaining turned to rush Riddick but halted in their tracks when he bent down to retrieve a metal can opener and stood placing it on the rock. They looked at the little piece of metal and then glanced warily back to him. Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, the collected the man Kyra had felled and left the area.

She crouched down to Riddick’s kill. “Death by teacup.” She pulled the bloody thing from his chest. “Damn. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“I didn’t come to play ‘Who’s the better killer?’” He turned to walk away.

“But it’s my favorite game. Haven’t you heard?”

“I heard you came lookin’ for me.” He said dejectedly with his back to her.

“Is that all? Then you missed the good part. Hooked up with some mercs outta Lupus Five.” His head jerked to the side when he heard that. It hit a very sore spot within him. “Said they’d take me on, teach me the trade, give me a good cut.” She placed the cup back on the rock with a clank. “They slaved me out, Riddick. Do you know what that could do to you when you’re that age? When you’re 12 years old?”

He turned on her in anger. “I told you to stay in New Mecca.” He pulled the light fixture from overhead and yelled at her both of which made her flinch. “Did you not listen?” He pulled his goggles from his head and glared at her. “I had mercs on my neck. I’ll always have mercs on my neck. I spent five years on a frozen heap just to keep ‘em away from you. And you go and sign up with the same fake badges…that wanted to cut you up and use you for bait.”

“What are you pitching, Riddick? That you cuttin’ out was a good thing?” He turned away from her in disgust and pain while she continued. “That you had my ass covered from halfway across the universe?”

“You signed with mercs.” He whispered.

She wore a look of guilt on her face for a moment before she responded to his retreating back. “There was nobody else around.” She turned to walk into her cell slamming the door behind her while he paused for a moment and left the corridor feeling like his heart had just been ripped out.

~*~

Ian had supervised the transfer of the Majoram Pride to their assorted ships. He and Jarod had teleported everyone’s meager possessions aboard to expedite things along. Dean and Dorian made sure that in the scramble to evacuate that no one was left unaccounted for and families were not separated from each other.

The Matriarch stayed by Ian’s side as her Pride was rushed to ships. He could feel her tension and slight fear from the haste in which they were being uprooted again. “I know this is unsettling, Andrea, but it is necessary that we move quickly.”

“I know.” She answered quietly. “I’m just not use to doing these things on my own. Telemachus has always been in charge of Pride matters.”

“I thought Nietzchean Matriarchs took an active role in Pride matters.” Ian glanced at the clone of his mate with much difficulty. “Why doesn’t Rhade allow you to assume your rightful power?”

“He said it would be easier for me since my memory is out of sorts.” She glanced at Ian who seemed to look right through her. “I trust my husband’s judgment implicitly. You seem to be having a difficult time looking at me. Is it because of my sister?”

“You could say that.” He turned away from her and watched people scramble down the halls.

“She never mentioned me?”

“No she hasn’t.” Ian said in a short tone.

“That is odd.” She said in quiet contemplation before she glanced up and smiled. “Here comes my son, Ronan.”

Ian looked up at the twenty something year old walking proudly their way. He stood over six feet tall, wore his dark hair in locks like Tyr’s, his eyes were a reflection of Rhade’s but his facial features and skin tone was a genetic trait of his mother. His real mother…Alexandra. Andrea had been created not too long ago and clearly could not have a 20-year-old son. This boy was birthed by his mate the same way her other children had…at an accelerated rate in the birthing dimension. As Ian scanned Ronan, he could detect traces of the Phoenix’s cosmic power within him but not to the extent that her other sons carried. ‘He was not made to be a Protector. She birthed him strictly for Rhade.’

“Ian, I would like to introduce you to my son, Ronan Dex Rhade.” She turned to her child and smiled when he held out his hand in greeting. “Ronan, this is your uncle Ian.”

“It is an honor to meet you, sir.” Ronan said with a strong, confident voice that reminded Ian of his mate. “My father has told me many stories of my aunt’s adventures. I look forward to meeting her as well.”

Ian returned his handshake and smiled at the young man’s enthusiasm. “I’m sure she can’t wait to see you as well.” He looked at the offspring of Rhade and his mate for a moment and could swear he saw him illustrate several of her mannerisms. ‘We have a lot of things to discuss, my Lady.’ He released his grip on Ronan’s hand and indicated the direction of the landing pad with an outstretched hand. “I would like the two of you to join me on my ship. I am under strict instructions to ensure your safety and even I would not dare to disobey Alexandra. Your belongings have already been teleported on board so if you don’t mind we really need to be underway.”

Ten minutes later, Ian’s ship led the cruisers and fighters of Majoram Pride further into Shi’ar space. At their current speed they would reach Caprica in an hour’s time. Ian had planned to stay long enough for the Pride to get settled and intended to return to Ariana. Their safety would no longer be an issue once they were in the interior of Alex’s Empire and he wanted nothing more than to go home to check on her progress in the battle.

While he was deep in thought of his mate’s secret actions of the past and current predicament, Ronan entered the command deck and approached Ian undetected. “Uncle, may I ask a favor?”

‘Damn, this kid is as stealthy as his mother and me.’ He straightened up in his chair and indicated the second-in-command’s chair for him to sit. “Anything, Ronan. What can I do for you?”

“After the Pride arrives at Caprica, I would like to return with you to Ariana. In fact, since that is the likely place my father will go after the battle is over, I believe it is my mother’s intention to go there as well. I have to admit my motives are of a different nature.”

“You want to meet Alex.”

Ronan laughed and lowered his head in shame. “I know from my father’s stories that my aunt will not allow any harm to befall him during the war so a reunion with him is not my motivation since I know he is safe.” He looked into Ian’s amber eyes with his mother’s ability to coerce any one into doing her bidding and Ian had been on the receiving end of that look more times than he could remember. “I want to see her. I’ve had a feeling that something was missing from my life and deep down I think she can shed some light on that.”

“Why would you think that Alex could clear up your confusion when you’ve never met her?” Ian asked while he tried to keep his voice even to prevent the boy from suspecting that he knew something. “You should be able to ask your father any questions that you have or even your…mother.”

“My mother has that memory problem right now and it isn’t likely to change. My father just seems to always talk about my aunt and I know she has some kind of amazing power. I figured she could help me understand the things I feel and the images that flash through my dreams.” He seemed to think over something before he asked his next question. “If they are sisters, why doesn’t my mother have the same power Aunt Alexandra has?”

Ian shook his head in slight frustration. He hated lying and this boy was a part of his family who deserved the truth but it was for Alex and Rhade to tell him. “I don’t know, Ronan. I will take you and your mother to Ariana and you can wrestle your answers from your aunt. You will have to wait until we are sure of her physical condition after the war before you question her.”

“Wouldn’t you know by looking at her if she suffered any injuries?”

“Usually yes but your aunt is currently with child and I fear for the safety of her unborn. She lost the last child she carried not too long ago and if something happened to this one I fear it will push her over the edge.”

~*~