Treacherous

With both Riddick and the Ramsay issue taken care of Bell had little else to do. So she started walking. Get some exercise, have a little time to think.

Below the main levels the hallways became less aesthetic. Not meant to be seen by the elite, it was rougher, less decorated.

Everyone she met was exceedingly polite, and not in the least intimidated. They were the workers, the true force behind the power that was the Necromongers. Without these people things wouldn’t get done, nothing would be done.

A blue light caught her attention and she moved toward it. But it moved.

Bell smiled to herself at the ridiculousness of it. It clearly had a shape. A ball of blue light, but it was also very clearly hovering and moving on its own. She followed it, keeping a good distance from it. Suddenly it surged forward. It zipped upwards towards the ceiling and then was gone so quickly she could barely track its movement.

“What the hell?”

“My Lady?”

While she followed the orb she’d entered the workings beneath the ship. Large engines, hydraulics, the supports for the very hull itself.

Bell turned to the man who’d spoken. He was working in a corner behind her. “What was that?”

He glanced up to where the orb had disappeared. “Gravity sphere. They patrol the recesses of the ship.”

That had her attention. “Patrol? For what?”

He smiled, “My Lady, the guards can’t be everywhere at once. With a campaign in the works, they have better things to be doing. The spheres make sure everyone is working and aren’t up to tricks.”

She frowned in understanding. “And if they find someone that isn’t doing as they’re supposed to?”

He looked hesitant to speak, then his eyes dropped to the hallway opposite them. Bell turned to see a form that could only have been human. It was burnt black and barely recognizable. She gasped and stepped back.

She turned on the man, “You have got to be kidding! They kill people?”

As if on cue one of the spheres appeared down the corridor from them. It hovered in place for a few seconds, then moved slowly forward, its path one that would bring it right to her at about head level.

“My Lady, maybe you should return above ship,” the man whispered behind her.

Bell glanced sideways at the man, scowling. Like hell! She was not running from this thing. Instead she closed her eyes. After a second of composing herself she opened her eyes and stared at the sphere. If Weis could make a bubble around him like they’d said, then she could too. She felt her apparition strengthen around her and was rewarded by seeing the blue ball falter. But it kept coming, only yards away now. Its slow progress didn’t fool her in the least. She’d seen how quick it could move.

When it was just feet away she concentrated on forcing it back. Her apparition could feel the entity inside the sphere, could feel its want. Hateful little thing.

The thing didn’t like being restricted, didn’t understand it, so fought it. Already spinning slowly within itself it sped up, whirling and flattening out until it was feet across instead of just inches. All that kept it from her was the invisible wall of her apparition, and it continued to try to force its way to her.

Only a minute or so passed, yet already somewhere nearby clumping footfalls could be heard running. A shout between men, but Riddick was silent. She could feel him coming. He ran at the front of the group without hesitation, running right to her.

He stepped into view and the thing instantly backed off, becoming small and harmless looking again.

“Disperse!” Vaako ordered and the thing took off like a shot.

Both she and Riddick turned on him. Bell was the first to speak. “I don’t give a shit what those things are or what purpose they serve. They are gone!”

Vaako looked from her yelling at him to Riddick, “My Lord, they operate only in the working levels. Simple programs meant to aid you as Lord Marshal. She was never meant to encounter one.”

“Don’t defend those murdering little balls!” she yelled at him, stepping forward to get in his face as much as her shorter height would allow. “It’s not what it almost did to me. I don’t care. I want them off this ship and every ship!”

He looked surprised and looked at Riddick for guidance. Riddick seemed unaffected now that the danger was gone. “You heard her.”

The Commander straightened his stance, taking the moment to compose himself. “They can be retracted and shut down.”

“Do it.”

A second of silence and Vaako took the hint. He turned on his heel and left them.

“What the fuck are you doing down here, Bell?”

She rolled her eyes, “Following a fucking ball! Damn thing tried to kill me.”

He huffed, presumably at her anger, but then after a second he spoke again, “One came after me when I escaped this ship first time.”

“You knew about them?”

He walked around the area a bit, looking into shadowy corners with that flashing gaze, appearing to be inspecting, but showing no real interest. “Knew they existed. Same kinda power they use to destroy worlds, just smaller.” He glanced at her long enough to raise a brow. “Figured it was just sent after me.”

The little man she’d spoken to still stood in his place, eyes much wider now. “This man says they patrol the lower levels. Keep people in line. And kill.” She pointed to the body.

Riddick looked at the body, but his expression didn’t change. “You know, they are probably useful.”

“I don’t care. I would rather this ship fall outta the fuckin’ sky than have forced labor under the threat of death.”

He seemed to consider her point, then just shrugged and moved towards the exit. In his eyes the issue was resolved and it didn’t matter either way to him.

~~~~~

Food helped. Bell ate a bit and questioned whether it was drugged. Riddick’s way of keeping her on ship?

But she only slept for a few hours. Early morning. Ramsay smiled when she peeked in, but the kids were still sleeping.

The Necropolis was full of soldiers when she stepped up to the door. Riddick was talking to them, giving last orders. She was invisible at the back, shorter than even the shortest men. She stayed just to hear him.

It wasn’t the words. She couldn’t care less what he was telling them. It was the sound.

Riddick had a voice that was impossible to ignore. Raised, as it was now, with the edge of a growl to it, it sent shivers down her spine and made her smile at the improper reaction. He might think he was unfit to lead, and for that very reason he was probably better than many others. She could feel the men around her, feel their doubts turn to pride and devotion as they listened. Riddick didn’t order them to march into an uneven battle and sacrifice their lives. He asked for their best, and that was all.

Bell could feel that Riddick knew she was there. She was a distraction in this busy time, she was sure, so she figured a quiet exit was in order. Not difficult under the circumstances.

She hadn’t even turned fully when a thought and his voice stopped her. “Bell!”

What the…? She turned with wide eyes, surprised to be brought to the center of attention.

Before her the soldiers parted. It was like the biblical red sea. A corridor of men, and at the other end was their lord striding confidently forward before they’d even cleared the way.

“You are officially under guard.” He indicated a group of twelve who stepped forward with weapons at the ready. “They go where you go. Starting now.”

She stared at the line of men, both flattered and annoyed. “Is this really necessary?”

“We’re within range in two hours. Set down in three. What you do is up to you, but these men don’t leave you.” She started to argue but his voice cut her off. “That’s final, Bell.”

Bell huffed a sigh. Whatever. She left him, in a hurry now, hearing the guards sicced on her follow.

~~~~

Now was the time for the children.

Bell went in with their breakfast and spent an hour refusing to think of anything but them. Ramsay being there made it feel more like before all this. It had been a simpler time with little contact with the outside world. They’d had a family, of sorts, and had been completely happy.

She kissed each of the kids before she left. The boys’ apparitions dragged at her, seeking information. They knew something was happening, but hadn’t been given any details. For the same reason the girls had also been kept in the dark about specifics. They knew only that the Necromongers were engaging in a campaign. Normal enough to them. And Ramsay’s thoughts couldn’t be picked by the boys, so he’d been fully informed, and warned.

Her guard had stayed in the hall, but now as she left there were more soldiers. The guards for the room. Riddick was there as well, giving final orders.

“Do you want to see them?” she asked.

Indecision. Mixed emotions. Want, doubt, resentment.

‘They would like it.’ She silently told him.

He didn’t respond to her, but she knew he heard her. His decision solidified. “I want this door sealed. Don’t open it for anything. Four stay at the door even if something comes down this hall.”

All the soldiers nodded solemnly.

Riddick moved, heading down the hall, his own guard following him, Vaako taking up the rear as twelve guards stayed behind. Bell followed, dragging her feet and wishing for simpler problems. There was no solution to any of this, no easy way out.

Bell saw that another dozen guards were positioned at each end of the hall. Plus a guard at the main doors of the ship, inside and out. Another entire battalion would be placed outside the ship. Nothing could get in. It was overkill on top of overkill and it eased her mind to see how seriously Riddick was taking the threat to the kids.