Slave Planet: WAR OF THE BLOOD FIENDS!

Banin led them up some stone steps into what might have once been a guard tower. It was very dark inside. Banin lit a match and they all huddled about trying to acclimate to their new surroundings. Outside the rain began to fall in torrents and the thunder and lightening crashed with horrific force. The roof was sound and they were dry. Not bad, Riddick figured, not bad at all. Maybe Banin wasn't just extra baggage afterall...maybe.

Exhausted, everyone dropped their gear. Riddick pulled a candle from his knapsack and placed it strategically near the center of the large room. Except for a few cobwebs and leaves, it was reasonably clean. Probably a popular campsite for folks traveling between Venne and Merryville. Made sense. In due time each member of the party found a spot to their liking and settled down to ride out the raging weather. Banin pulled out a fresh flask of trunk, "might as get comfortable everybody, we'll be here for the night most likely."

Riddick sipped from his own supply of trunk. Nobody talked, it had been a tiring day. The sound of rain lulled them to sleep one at a time, Giella included. The slavegirl's body leaned heavily against the outlaw as she breathed deeply, lost in her dreams. The softness of her body and the trunk should have relaxed him but somehow it didn't. Maybe it was the lunge leaf but for whatever reason he was restless and alert. Banin began to snore, competing with Rarn for loudness honors. Night soon fell and Riddick still wasn't one little bit drowsy. He got on his feet, gently letting the slavegirl down into a more comfortabe position. For a long moment Riddick admired the full tittys as they rose and fell in a soft rhythm. Nice. Still, he wasn't that interested at the moment.

Riddick couldn't shake a feeling of agitation. Something didn't feel just right about this ancient, foreboding place. He stepped quietly to the doorway and peered out. The rain ceased for a while and Riddick watched as streaks of lightening illuminated the ghostly ruins of what must have once been a great city. The outlaw wondered why it had been abandoned, war maybe...or plague. Perhaps even an asshole government caused everyone to just pack up and leave in the night, one person or family at a time. Like rats from a sinking ship. It had happened that way many more times than anyone could count.

Riddick removed his goggles so he could see better. Something strange caught his eye. A couple of hundred yards away he caught a glimpse of, or maybe he thought he did, a briefly glowing light. Could it be somebody else was using these ruins? More bandits possibly, he couldn't think of a better place to hide out than these long forsaken, crumbling stones.
Riddick needed something to do anyway, he could already tell he wasn't going to sleep on this tortured night. He fondled the .45 at his belt before going back for the shotgun..no, the crossbow. Quieter, didn't want to awaken the sleeping beauties. Then Riddick slipped silently out into the blackness.

The outlaw carefully picked his way through the ancient pavillian. Tumbled stones, tree limbs blown down by the storm, and weeds made for a hazardous stroll. The sky had cleared somewhat and the light from a full moon gave the old city a spooky glow. Lightening still crossed the sky at regular intervals but it seemed a bit further away. This was no night or place for exploration but Riddick wasn't afraid, just curious. Fully alert, his strange silver eyes scanned for anything of significance. There is was again! He was certain this time, a faint flickering light, bluish in color. Riddick crept ever closer, cautious and stalking like a big predator cat. In fact he was a predator...the ultimate predator, man.

In time the intrigued Riddick began to wonder again if he'd been seeing things. Perhaps the lightening and moonlight, along with the mysterious ancient ruins were playing tricks with his imagination, but no, there it was again. Barely visible and flickering like the flame from a candle, but only for a moment and then it was gone. Freaky. He drew close enough to see the place of origin for this strange phenomena. It wasn't a campfire or any kind of fire, the light Riddick had seen was somehow unnatural. Once again it glowed for the briefest of seconds, but at least this time he could plainly see where it was located. The outlaw saw steps, leading down, the glow seemed to be coming from underground. The ancient stone walkway that led to somewhere beneath the pavillian accessed perhaps what had once been a cellar. Maybe even a underground waterworks or transportation system. Hard to say for sure, Riddick told himself. Nothing to do but get closer, much closer. Cautiously, he moved in. This might be a very bad idea he told himself. "Fuck it," Riddick decided to go for it.

Silently as death, the bald man moved slowly one step at a time into the dark abyss that lay beneath him. He held the crossbow at the ready as his free hand fumbled in the dark for a candle and match. The candlelight made visible ancient carvings on the walls and even more stone steps leading to who knows where. After a few more minutes of steady descent Riddick could make out a small doorway. It appeared to be about four feet high and three feet wide. Suddenly there was a bright explosion of pale blue light. At this distance it was almost blinding, but as quickly as it appeared so did it vanish. Riddick donned his goggles and continued. Stooping low at the doorway he peered inside only to see what appeared to be an empty room with walls covered with more odd writing and bizarre artwork.

Riddick stuck his arm inside the room and set the candle down and to the side. Then he ducked his head and entered. He had no idea what to expect but what he got chilled him. There was nothing in the room, nothing at all, complete emptiness. "What the fuck?" Riddick asked out of frustration. Where the hell was that light coming from. He felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck. Something very strange was going down here. There was no sound, he fought the impulse to flee. It could be a trap but momentarily he remained frozen, crossbow in one hand and .45 in the other. Riddick had the uncomfortable sensation that a truly weird event was happening in this room but he saw absolutely nothing to validate his emotions. Then the light returned. Without the goggles he would have been blinded, as it was he had to squint and raise his arm to ward off some of the utter brilliance of the glow.

The light flickered crazily but this time it did not vanish. It seemed to grow, at first it almost appeared attracted to Riddick. Within moments, the brightness diminished somewhat to be replaced by a steadily glowing room enveloped by a shimmering pale blueness. Slowly his eyes adjusted somewhat, he then noticed a faint, almost distant humming sound. Maybe the sound had been there all along but Riddick had been to distracted by the light to notice. Then things really got freaky. The underground room had a low ceiling, perhaps a bit less than seven feet. However, it was a fairly large room and there near the back a swirling black circle appeared from nowhere. A chill ran down the outlaw's spine and he emitted a startled, semi-muted gasp. Instinctively he pointed both of his weapons in the direction of the apparition that almost seemed to be undulating into its self as it spun madly. Almost imperceptibly at first the dark circle began to take on a form, the form of a man! Or at least some kind of man, the likes of which Riddick had certainly never seen before.

"This is just to fucking bizarre," Riddick uttered to himself, the sound of his own voice seemed distant and odd.

Within moments more details of the apparition became apparent. Riddick first noticed the strange misshapen hat that framed a pale, gaunt face. Unruly strands of long black hair fell from underneath the slouch hat. The stranger wore all black, the hat, the long cloak that covered his broad shoulders, the tattered shirt, the trousers, and even the knee high boots. All was black except for a bright blue sash tied tightly about the narrow waist of the man. Dangling at his side was a long blade. It reached almost to the ground, the strange man's right hand rested on its metallic hilt. Stuffed inside the sash were two large, unusual pistols and the handle of a shorter blade. His other powerful fist held a bizarre wooden stave. The long object had a sharpened lower end that rested upon the floor, the upheld end had the head of a finely carved egyptian anubis. Riddick found himself staring into eyes almost as unusual as his own. From beneath jet black brows, shockingly blue steel orbs peered from thin slitted eyelids. The man was very tall, well over six feet. He was lean but powerfully built, the sleeves of his torn shirt revealed large, powerfully knotted muscles. The cold, chrystal blue eyes looked about, seemingly puzzled.

It occurred to Riddick that he'd once heard of alien races that had perfected means of advanced teleportation. This was obviously an example, had to be. At any rate, it was the first time that the outlaw had witnessed such a thing. If indeed it was the work of an advanced technological device, Riddick wanted one...bad. No merc could follow him then. Whatever it was he had just seen, the outlaw knew he would never forget it. The eyes of the stranger met Riddicks. For a long time they stared at each other before a voice both deep and odd echoed through the room.

"Greetings young sir."

"Who the fuck are you?" Riddick asked.

The narrow slits of the black clad man's eyes became even narrower as he answered. "I'll not be favoring much thy manner of questioning nor thy profanity young sir, but as I am a newcomer here I suppose I should suffer to answer ye. I am called Solemnity O'Kain, late of the fair country of England and formerly a loyal subject of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the First! Although I'll not be sure she's a'claiming me or any other of my puritan brethern." This last part the stranger added in a somewhat subdued tone of voice.

Riddick would have been inclined to laugh in the man's face had he not been witness to the incredible events of the last few minutes. However, he wondered if perhaps to much indulgence in lunge leaf could lead to hallucinations. No way, he felt great, only very, very curious.

"How did you get here, that was quite an entrance Mr." Riddick asked, attempting to not appear overly astonished.

O'Kain held the unusual stave out as if offering it for closer inspection. "This is no normal walking stick here young sir. This is an ancient device that has powers even I cannot guess at. I'm of a mind that it"s as old or older than the pyramids of the long dead Egyptian Pharohs. I am a redresser of evils and an avenger of those oppressed by evil. I am in search of a blasphemous demon, hideous beyond the telling. This stave has powers to carry me wherever I needs go to confront this beast. In truth, the power is with the Almighty as all things through him are thusly willed. Some say such a thing as I hold is a source of black magic and well it may be. Still, the greater power deems I should use it to seek out that one with the blackest heart of all. Wherever I go, I carry no fear, for already the powers of the Almighty have protected me from all manner of horrors. In one instance I found myself battling an entire race of depraved peoples. At the very moment my death was assured, a great earthquake came and destroyed my foes. This is only one example of many I could tell but enough of me, might I inquire as to who you are young sir, and please tell me where on earth I am presently?"

Riddick scratched his chin, completely dumbfounded. It was not a good feeling. Not knowing what else to say he simply answered the questions. "My name is Riddick, and you aren't on earth, assuming you're telling the truth, or at least think you're telling the truth. What I just saw has no explanation, not now anyhow. Maybe, I'll just play your game for the time being. This planet we're on is called Tronas and its a few light years and several centuries removed from the time and place you claim to have just departed from."

O'Kain eyes betrayed a degree of surprise but not one slight indication of fear. He stared at the wooden stave in his hand as if he had noticed it for the first time. "Could it be that I have indeed traveled to a distant star? Truly I have looked upon a great number of incredible beings and events but this must be the grandfather of them all! The power I possess in this seemingly simple piece of wood must be unimaginable. Still, the power issues from Him Almighty and verily I must witness, it be endless."

"Very well, O'Kain continued, "tell me Riddick, be ye friend or foe. If ye serve the wicked monster I pursue let us battle and be done with it!"

Despite everything Riddick stared the stranger down, there had been no change of expression on his features. He lowered the crossbow hesitantly, "as far as I know Mr., we have no beef unless I'm that evil one you're looking for. There are quite a few folks in the galaxy that will tell you in a second that I'm the devil. Thing is, I don't mess with anybody unless they mess with me first. Does this bad dude you're looking for have a name? Who knows, I might be able to point you in the right direction, I've been around the block a time or two."

"Very well then," O'Kain answered. Riddick noticed the freaky stave still glowed dimly with remnants of blue light. He wanted to know more about that stick.

O'Kain continued, "the one that I seek has many names for his depravity is near that of
Satan himself, and truly he has traveled far and lived long. I have known him as Prince Vlad, or Vlad the Impaler. It is said that he also is called Count Dracula. Perhaps the name he is most deserving of is simply the Prince of Darkness." O'Kain's pale face took on a look of hardness and determination as if by merely speaking these names, the importance of his quest was reassured.

The grim determination etched in that stony face was chilling even to Riddick. Whoever this dude was after better run like hell he found himself thinking.

The strange conversation ended suddenly. From somewhere above ground, the stillness was shattered by the sound of a woman screaming. "Please help me, oh God please help me....." The deep guttural voice of a man laughed long and hard each time the woman pleaded for aid....or mercy.

The black clad O'Kain responded instantly by drawing the long rapier from its simple leather scabbard. "There be no time for talking now, a woman is in distress. Do ye stand with me Riddick, thou hast the look of a warrior about ye. And in truth, Solemnity O'Kain has seen his share of fighting men, both the good and the wicked!"

Riddick's expression hadn't changed but he pulled the .45 from his belt. "Lead on," he said.