Just the Beginning

Fandom: The Chronicles of Riddick
Pairing: Riddick/V
Ra
Rating: R Language, Adult Situations
Feedback: I love feedback, so feel free to share. :)
Summary: Some socializing, and decisions are made.
Disclaimer: TCoR are possesions of David Twohy and Universal Studios. I'm just playing a little bit. :D


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Vaako imagined worse case scenario, Riddick would kill a few people. If they were casting doubt on his abilities as ruler, or proved to be a danger to him, there was nothing to be done. If they were just annoying the Lord Marshal, well, he hoped to keep him calm enough no blood was shed.

It turned out he didn't have to worry. Riddick glided into the main chambers, his powerful stride eating the distance from entrance to throne seat at the head table. His body language commanded everything in his path, carriage that of a born ruler. And the people responded, kneeling as he entered, heads bent until he was seated.

Then women and men alike, headed by former Dame Vaako, Lady Terrah, wasted no time in trying to curry favor with their new Lord Marshal, most having spent hours to present their best to the Furyan.

Lady Terrah stepped forward, curtsying so deep her cleavage was clearly on display, smiling seductively. "You look well my Lord, but a little tense," she said ignoring his easy sprawl, "and I know a full body massage that would do well to please you if you desire."

Riddick couldn't have looked more bored or uninterested if a dust mote floated by in the air. "Thanks, but I'm good."

Her smile faltered for an instant, clearly surprised her offer was turned down so quickly, before it reinserted itself with another curtsy. "As you say, my Lord," she said as she moved to sit in her seat.

Vaako silently sighed in relief as the first play failed, though knowing by the look on her face it wasn't over. She would be back in force but for now he didn't have to watch her flirt with Riddick for the entire evening.

The head table was quickly filled, that in itself almost becoming a spectacle, and Riddick's bodyguards formed a loose circle at his back. Their steady presence easily discouraged any treacherous thoughts or actions that might linger in someone's mind. Vaako had hand-picked the guards, with Eleck, Traax, and Fierce themselves demanding to stand behind their ruler to show support as well.

And still he found himself circuiting the crowded room, keeping a weary eye out for anyone who would cause trouble. Soon food appeared on the tables and Vaako, feeling Riddick's fixed stare between his shoulder blades, turned to see him gesture to the empty chair on his right. He made his way over, seating himself as the people chattered, listening to the small talk only enough to detect any problem that might arise, since he was primarily there to support and assist the Lord Marshal. He never enjoyed the feigned reverence prevalent in these gatherings to butter-up the Lord Marshal. Yet it amused the former Lord Marshal to host them. He had a feeling this was one tradition that Riddick would make sure was not continued.

Riddick was silent, content to watch the low level sniping attacks of one-upmanship over the food, absorbing everything around him with flashing eyes hidden from view.

'Don't they know anything other than this petty squabbling?' he thought as two former advisors cut each other down with words.

"Enough!" he said his hand cutting through the air. "Eat! And isn't there some entertainment? Something to keep your mouths shut?" he asked, the furrow on his head signaling a deep irritation with the ones who called themselves 'high society.' The warriors acted with more respect than they did, and they were trained for combat.

The room fell into silence, the men and women looking at each other in confusion. Vaako opened his mouth, but closed it when Riddick shot him a look. Sighing the ruler rubbed his forehead before trying to explain.

"You know, singing, dancing, tricksters, music? For all the people and races you assimilated, you haven't kept any good parts for yourselves? Do you just scheme and fight, plot and plan, to take each other out?"

The silence became utter stillness, the Necros finding themselves not willing to say that this was it, that all they knew was something he made sound unnatural. But then no one had ever challenged them on the way. They had in fact been taught to behave as they did to survive in Necropolis, that ruthless calculation was the only way.

"You know no other way than to fight amongst yourselves, or kill others?" he impatiently asked.

Former advisor Taalh stood, bowing at the waist to the Lord Marshal. "We know the Faith. We were chosen out of this weak universe to live in a greater one, and we simply help others make the same fortunate decision we came upon."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the main hall before coming to a halt as Riddick pulled off his goggles and stood. Everyone watched him as he slowly circled the room, his cloak flowing close behind as he stared down those men that dared look him in the eye. Eyes dropped, many to uncomfortable to look into the otherworldly glow.

"And say you do get to this, 'Underverse.' What would you do so differently there? Or would it be the next universe to conquer, to take those there on to the next, until there's nothing left but your empty, drifting souls?" The hall resonated with his words, and as Vaako looked around, it seemed as if they had echoed in many minds as well.

"If I may my Lord, you yourself killed others, did you not?" Lady Terrah asked, a false sickeningly sweet tone to her voice, poorly disguising her need to get back at him for refusing her.

"Yeah, I did. They had in some way stepped to me first, had it coming. Once hunted, I became the hunter. But for you, I can see the difference in your eyes. How you blindly followed something you don't entirely believe in. How you killed those who thought differently because of your own doubts and fears." Advisor Taalh heavily sat down, slowly realizing that no one stood with him, not against Riddick on this matter. Lady Terrah looked away, not willing to speak up again.

Vaako lowered his eyes when Riddick faced him, not wanting the man to see what resided in him, for his wife had been right. He had been weak. But he vowed to himself some time ago, he would never again be so.

Feeling heat brush his side, he lifted his eyes and caught Riddick's direct gaze, narrowed in the light of the room. The Furyan held his own before the goggles were slipped into place, stepping back to turn away.

"We're done here."

~~~

"You had us all contemplating your words, you know. Necromongers are not known to be silent."

Riddick chuckled, relaxed in his quarters now that he was away from so many Necros in one room. "Yeah, I noticed. The party sucked, but I'll be damned if I gotta teach everyone how to party."

Vaako, seated on the divan closest to Riddick, remained silent for a moment before smirking ruefully. "You must understand, what you said is essentially true. After the first purification, there isn't much interest in the 'good' things any longer. You become caught up in the Necromonger way, never thinking of the simple things you used to enjoy in your former life..."

"Speaking from experience, Vaako?" Vaako remained silent, for a moment reflecting on said life experience.

"Well as you said, have the Necromongers ever known any other way of living other than plotting, scheming, and doubting after they came into the Faith? I only had vague recollections of my family being killed in a feudal blood bath when I was a boy, barely surviving myself, only to live in the streets. I quickly learned to fight, for my mind, body, soul, for the next meal. That was before the first Conqueror Icon crashed into the center of Miada Metropolis on Strytos 5. Joining them gave me a home, something to work for, to believe in. After the first Purification, everything felt numb and I became so entrenched I didn't care what I was doing, as long as it was for the 'faith.' So did I in the end give up everything I fought so fiercely for in Miada Metropolis, had I given up my mind, body, and soul albeit in a different sort of way?" Vaako whispered as he slowly pulled away from his past, focusing on his surroundings. Looking up into the present to see Riddick attentively listening, eyes boring into his own.

" You never struck me as the livestock being lead to the slaughter type."

Vaako smiled, though it wasn't a joyful expression. "Yet, I was lead for some years...Perhaps I did give of my mind and body for a time, but after the Purifier began to 'mistakenly' overlook my scheduled sessions, I become discontent, questioning my role, no longer so sure about the way we operated. I could never understand what made me doubt and disagree, made me speak out rather than simply accept. The former Lord Marshal once told me he picked me because I retained my spirit. And once I knew what made me different, I vowed to never be brainwashed so easily or allow my actions to be out of my control. Now, looking back, perhaps the Purifier thought if my mind became un-fogged, I would make a difference... He spoke to me about doubts when I was sent to retrieve you from Crematoria, but I told him I had no doubts. I wonder if he was searching for an ally."

Riddick stared at him, sitting as if carved from stone, not a muscle moving. Vaako stared back, a question entering his eyes. Riddick frowned and looked away, eyes riveted to the empty space beyond the viewing port.

"He was like me."

"He was like...? I don't understand," Vaako said, slowly frowning in confusion.

Riddick stood and paced back and forth in front of him. "The Purifier. He was a Furyan, like me. For all I know, the last. He walked into 700 degrees of hell. And I didn't stop him."

Vaako sat still for a moment before standing and placing himself in the pacing mans' path. Waited until he came up short and his head rose, to catch and hold his gaze.

"He made a choice. Nothing you could have said or done would have changed that."

Riddick stood still, muscles taunt, tense for action. But slowly they relaxed as there was no physical fight, only a mental one.

"Yeah, well I've been thinking about it. And it's part of what I wanted to tell you."

Vaako stood patiently head tilted as he studied the handsome, masculine features not very far from his own. Riddick looked over his shoulder, lost in thought for a moment, before his eyes snapped back to look at him. Turning slightly he resumed his pace, only centered around him.

"Aereon had a chat with me, all concerned about the future of the Necros," he said smirking at the twist of Vaako's lips at the sound of her name. "Asking if I had plans and shit. I didn't feel like finalizing them...Until now." He paused, moving with animal grace to lounge in his chair.

"I want to go to Furya."

Vaako's head whipped up to stare at him for a moment. "Your word will be obeyed, of course," he said slowly, "but why did you chose this action to pursue?"

"If ya have to know, I want to learn about my people, where I came from. What made the other Lord Marshal so afraid of us..."

Vaako studied him for a moment, then moved to retake his seat. "I don't know much, but it seemed that a prophecy was foretold, by a seer, that he would be killed by a male from the Furyan race. He wasn't a particularly brave man, so in his fear he killed all the male Furyan's he could find. I wasn't there at the time, but later he told me of the countless warriors he lost to your planet. I didn't know the Purifier was a Furyan, though at times when I looked at him, I saw something fierce flash in his eyes, like it does in yours..." Vaako looked down, unable to look at the almost lost look in Riddick's eyes. "If all your people were like you, then I would be honored to find out more about them. If any object, know that you know you have my full support."

Riddick nodded at him, and blew out a breath. "How long will it take to get there?"

"Not long. I believe the planet is a few systems away. We should be there in a few days. When we arrive, do you wish to take a frigate down with you?"

"Nah. Just give me a ship and I'll head down myself."

Vaako nodded, and held his tongue for all of 5 seconds. "And I will be accompanying you, as well as some of your bodyguards?" he said, the question coming out more as a statement.

Riddick chuckled, and stretched in his position. "If I don't feel like getting into it with ya, I guess I should say yes, huh? Can't really see you just do as your told without a fight unless you agree," he said wryly.

"And I thought you didn't want drones?" Riddick grinned and shrugged. Standing he made his way to the divan Vaako was currently seated on and pulled him up to bury his head against his neck and inhale.

"So, Necros lose all sensation with the whole purifying thing?" he asked as his hands wandered down the commanders body.

"Not all sensation. Just painful ones. Many of our warriors dropped dead after sustaining injuries they weren't even aware of. I myself only began to feel again after all those missed sessions," he replied almost absently, leaning into the firm touches down his back and sides.

"So that's why you respond so well when I touch you, huh," he said with a chuckle as Vaako sighed as he ran a hand over the peach fuzz growing from his scalp. Opening dilated hazel eyes, he glanced down than up into blue-violet opalescent eyes.

"It's..." he hesitated, then lifted his hand to trace the strong jawbone and said what he was afraid would push him away. "It's just you. No one else."

His fear was unfounded as Riddick's jaw stretched into a grin. "So it's me that's got your motor running," he said with arrogance.

Vaako sighed, and slowly pulled away after a moist kiss. "I'll retire to my quarters. You have a few things to go over with your advisors, and there may be backlash from tonight's gathering. The ones who favor the old ways would think tomorrow a good day to act. We'll have to be on guard," he said seriously.

"This is me we're talking about. Don't worry," Riddick said with a disarming grin. Vaako snorted and turned to leave.

"Now I'm worried. Good evening, my Lord."

"You know, the bed's big enough for two, Vaako." The commander paused and sighed.

"I know. But we still need to wait. These are going to be the most tumultuous times you'll have to deal with. Every Lord Marshal that wasn't directly appointed went through small uprisings at first. Once you assert that it's your way or no way, they'll settle."

Riddick glided forward until he was at Vaako's back, tongue flicking out to taste the spot under his ear, arms wrapping around his trim waist. "I still don't see what this has to do with us."

"You shouldn't be involved with me so quickly after becoming Lord Marshal. They'll wonder at your competence and motives, they already speculate about my position since I tried to kill the former Lord Marshal. All I ask if for you to wait. Just for now," he whispered as Riddick nuzzled behind his ear.

"And why do I fucking care what they think again?"

Vaako smirked and tilted his head back to catch his eye. "They outnumber you. Make loyal followers first, than feel free to quiet the loudest protesters. By then those few will be drowned out by the majority. Trust me, Riddick," he said, taking one of his hands to squeeze the long thick fingers.

"...I haven't trusted someone in a long time," he said, not quite answering the entreaty. "To bad we never came to blows."

Vaako twisted in his grip, hand still clasped to Riddick's, to stare at him in surprise. "And why is that?"

Riddick grinned and shrugged. "As they say in the Slam, you best know a man after you've fucked him. Since I can't fuck ya yet, the next best way to get to know him is to fight."

Vaako chuckled, and grabbed the back of Riddick's head to pull him down into a hard, passionate kiss, roughly biting his bottom lip before pulling away. "That'll have to suffice you until tomorrow. You do have a training room, so I believe a spar is just what's needed to cool this," he said gesturing between them, "down. Agreed?"

"Sounds good. I could use a work-out...But I'm telling you know I'm kicking your ass for leaving me with a boner every time you walk out that fucking door," Riddick said with a low growl.

Vaako's eyes narrowed, and the tip of his lips tilted upwards in a smirk. "I didn't become a commander, or the Lord Marshal's Right-hand, for being easy. You can try."

As the entrance closed and the lights were flicked off, glowing eyes glinted, a flash of white teeth slicing through the room. The predator had scented a worthy prey.