Predator

Chapter 61

The Phoenix entity was an impressive creature to behold. She was at full strength now and the crimson flames of her form burned bright in the night sky. Her family could see her clearly from the surface of the planet. Its wingspan stretched several hundred feet and the whole of its body exceeded that. Alexandra’s body was tiny within the heart of the avatar but she shined like a star that could be seen from any distance.

The Abyss was twice her size after it took on corporeal form. Its shape looked like a human but it had no features within its black mass. It was outlined with the darkest flame that had ever been seen and it seemed to contain the dark energy within. Two blood red eyes burned within its head as it stared at its ancient enemy.

“Did you really think it prudent to draw me here?” His voice boomed through the heavens. “After existing in your diminished capacity for so many millennia, do you really believe you are ready for this?”

“I have never been one to wait for a fight to come to me. You tried to kill my child within my womb. You infiltrated my home and possessed two of my mates. You used their bodies to force yourself on me and tried to break my will.” Her voice resonated through space and shook Ariana to the core of the planet. “I have no need to adjust to my added power. I have bonded with my humanity and together we are far more dangerous than I was alone.”

“We shall see.” The Abyss stretched out his hand towards her home world and several dark drops of its essence rained down to the surface. “It will be an added pleasure to know that your beloved family is dying while you are helpless to defend them. My Agents have been unleashed to perform this task while I deal with you. As I understand it, you actually feel their pain as they are beaten and killed. It will be interesting to see you experience their agony while you attempt to defend yourself.”

“You are a fool if you think my family is undefended. Have you forgotten that there are 2 more Phoenixes that exist besides me?” She smiled as her enemy turned his head to stare at the planet. “That’s right. They are on the planet and your Agents don’t stand a chance in hell against them.”

“They are only two and even they can be outnumbered. If just one of my Agents gets past them and kills one of yours, then they have done their job.” He turned to look at her and the fire burned darker in his eyes. “You put too much faith in your kind.”

“They are not alone. There are other beings down there that have power of their own. I think you overestimate the chances of your Agents and I am tired of talking.” Her wings flapped and drew her up so they were at head level. “I wish to be done with you so I can return to my life. It is time.”

~*~

Riddick watched as the dark energy fell to the grounds in front of the temple. Their forms coalesced until they began to take shape and substance. “Athena, I need you to protect Kyra and Vaako from harm.” He said as he backed his family up with a wave of his free arm. He held his daughter close to his chest with the other. “Ian, you and Ronon are to protect Dawn and Tamerlane with your lives. Get back into the temple!”

“Riddick, I can be of better use against the invaders.” Ian said as he saw the Agents of the Abyss begin to solidify.

“Ian, I am begging you not to argue with me on this.” Riddick turned his liquid gaze to meet his amber. “Please protect her babies.”

An understanding passed between the two men. Ian nodded his head and released a sigh of resignation. “Athena, do as Riddick commands.” He turned to lock eyes with the Deliverer. “Ronon, fall back to the temple.”

Riddick handed his daughter over to his mate’s First and watched them disappear through the marble entrance. “Ioan, you and I have point.” The young Phoenix nodded his head and took his position next to Riddick. “Logan, you and Scott flank the two of us.” The Wielders stood slightly behind and to the outside of Ioan and Riddick. “All of the boys with long range fighting abilities form a line behind us. Jesse, Dean, and Ares line up behind them. Tyr, Rhade, and Duncan get inside.”

Everyone took up the positions that Riddick pointed out. Their adversaries had taken solid form. There were hundreds of them. Ioan let his power encase his hands. Riddick unleashed his Furyan energy and it surrounded his body. Wolverine popped his claws from his knuckles. Scott’s hand went to his visor preparing to fire his optic blasts.

As Riddick, Ioan, and Scott began to fire on the first wave of the invaders, the boys on the second line of defense let their power loose from their bodies. Brandon filled his hands with fireballs. Electricity danced from Brennan’s fingertips. Cosmic energy filled Dorian’s hands and he clenched them into fists when he saw the approaching Agents.

They were everywhere. Every time they were fired upon, they would vanish before they were struck and reappeared somewhere else. As they closed in on the steps of the temple, Riddick’s frontline proved to be as effective as he thought they would be. Three of them had the ability to use their powers in a wide spread arc.

Ioan waved his hand and released a wall of flame that spread outward to burn a handful of Agents. Scott adjusted his visor to fire a wide beam from his eyes. He turned his head and blasted everything within view. Riddick unleashed a wave of blue energy from his body that incinerated everyone within his vicinity.

Seeing the 3 men in front take out several of their kind, the other Agents began to tesseract behind them. It was a good plan. The men on the second line could only fire upon two of them at once and their power was aimed. Their blasts could be dodged and the feral Wolverine could be avoided. They were making headway against the Royal Family. It was slow but they were closing in on the temple and within striking distance of the Phoenix’s loved ones.

“Ian!” Duncan yelled as he watched a tragedy unfold and impending doom on their doorstep. “They are getting through!”

“Shit.” Ian swore and shook his head as he glanced down at the infant in his arms. He knew his duty. Dawn was his priority. At all costs, he would protect this child. He looked up as the second line tried to fire upon their enemies with hardly any success. His eyes flared with their white energy and a force field snapped up into place around the main hall. Ronon and Tamerlane, Athena, Vaako and Kyra, Duncan, Tyr, Rhade, Dawn and himself were concealed within the safety of the shield that sealed off the entrance of the temple.

“What have you done?” Duncan asked as he watched his son through the barrier. “Ian, you’ve sealed us in! Everyone else is locked out! What have you done?”

“I have done what I had to do.” He replied evenly. “The Agents cannot tesseract inside of the force field. Dawn is my only priority. The others are going to have to prove their worth. I cannot help them.”

“Our family is out there!” Duncan turned and yelled at the Phoenix rocking the infant in his arms. “What if they need to fall back? You can’t just leave them out there!”

“Yes I can.”

~*~

“Your beloved family is not faring quite as well as you expected, Bright Lady.” The voice of evil mocked her through the vacuum of space. “Can you sense it? Can you see the destruction of everything you love coming to pass?”

~*~

An Agent appeared behind Brandon and scored the flesh of his back with a laser whip. His scream tore from his throat and caught his brother’s attention. Brennan watched him fall to a knee and unleashed an electrical charge at his assailant. As his brother fired upon the being that attacked him, Brandon glanced up and saw another Agent appear behind him. “No!”

~*~

Within the heart of her avatar, Alexandra hissed as she felt a searing pain slash across the expanse of her back. She reached a hand behind her and ran her fingers along the torn flesh. “Brandon.” She whispered as she stared at the blood on her fingertips.

“There goes one of your spawn.” The Abyss’ voice echoed around her. “The whip slices through flesh like it was made of tissue. I am told it is quite excruciating.”

~*~

As the Godling’s terrified scream reached his ears, Dorian threw a hand out and incinerated the Agent at Brennan’s back. He glanced back to the battle and came face to face with another man-thing. His eyes widened as he felt the steel enter his gut and twist into his flesh. His hands caught the Agent’s head between them and his cosmic fire burned him to a cinder before he fell to the ground.

~*~

Her hands flew to her stomach and she doubled over in agony. Blood seeped between her fingers and ran down her body. “Dorian?” She furrowed her brow as she pictured him before her.

~*~

“Dorian!” Ronon screamed for his brother through the barrier. He watched him clutch his stomach and try to regain his feet. Another Agent blinked in and kicked him across his face leaving him sprawled out on his back. As a booted foot came down to stomp on his bleeding abdomen, he threw out his hand and blasted the Agent to ash.

All that remained of the second line was Brennan and Ronon watched him situate himself between his fallen brothers. He stretched his arms out to his sides waiting for another to stay in position long enough to fire upon. Brandon crawled to Dorian’s side and forced himself to his knees. He tried to help Riddick’s son to a sitting position when he heard the sizzling hiss of his brother’s mutant power.

He glanced over his shoulder to see Brennan fry two Agents and a proud smile graced his lips. His little brother was holding his own. Brandon heard a loud thumping sound followed by a muffled yell from Ronon. His smile faded from his face when he turned back towards Dorian and saw an Agent pull a bloody knife from the center of his mother’s youngest son’s chest.

~*~

“I believe that was your youngest son, wasn’t it?” An evil laugh reverberated through her body as she clutched a hand to her chest. The pain that coursed through her body from the wounds paled in comparison to the sight of Dorian’s still form on the temple’s stairs. “I was right. This is going to be very entertaining. It will be almost as entertaining as taking your body against your will while I inhabited your mates’ forms.”

“No, Dorian.” She clenched her eyes against the mental sight of his bloodied body. “Not you, baby.”

~*~

A cruel smile twisted across the face of the butcher before him. The dark rage that had coursed through Brandon for months now finally found release. He released a fireball at the creature that just gutted his brother and smiled as it consumed him slowly and painfully.

~*~

“NO!” Ronon screamed out in torment at the sight of his fallen brother. “Ian, let me out!” He pounded on the force field in desperation. His blows rippled across the shimmering surface but did nothing to affect its strength. “I need to bring him in!”

“No.” Came a short reply.

Ronon spun around and glared at Ian in shock. “Two of my brothers have fallen!” He screamed at him with clenched fists at his sides. “Tyr has the ability to heal them! We have to bring them in!”

“I cannot open the shield, Ronon. They can come in on their own accord but I will not risk one of those Agents getting in here.”

“Brandon is dying! Dorian might be dead!” Ronon ran up to his mother’s First and yelled with barely contained fury. “They cannot make it on their own! They need our help, you insensitive bastard!”

~*~

Another Agent appeared with a laser whip in his hand and stood over the two fallen Guardians. Brennan was busy firing currents of electricity at more approaching enemies. The blood loss was sapping Brandon’s strength and he couldn’t produce another fireball. He watched as the whip lashed up into the air and he selflessly threw his body over Dorian. He cried out in pain as it sliced across his shoulders.

He opened his tear-filled eyes and met Dorian’s weak gaze. He gave him a sad smile as he heard the whip slice through the air again. He waited for the next blinding flash of pain to come with clenched eyes and was surprised when it didn’t. He wearily lifted his head and saw his father vaporize the man that attacked him.

~*~

Alex writhed in agony as another slash tore into the flesh on her back. The Phoenix crossed its wings over its chest as its human form wrapped her arms around her body. “Brandon…” She cried silently and felt horror grip her heart as she felt the life blood drain from her sons.

~*~

Jesse and Dean moved up to flank Ares and Brennan. The God of War and his son threw a volley of fireballs and electric current across the field that separated them from the front line. A few of their shots connected but most of the Agents blinked in and out of the path of their blasts.

Jesse was a hand-to-hand combatant but his strength was superior due to his mother’s genetic tampering. He swung at one Agent, catching it on the jaw, before he drove his elbow back into the face of one that appeared behind him. He heard the faint sound of his father yelling and, before he could turn towards him, felt the sting of a blade enter his back three times in quick succession.

~*~

Alex silently screamed as she felt three more jagged holes appear in her back. “Jesse…” Her entire body was wracked with pain and blood flowed profusely from her wounds. Sad, bitter tears fell from her eyes as she watched her son fall next to the other two.

~*~

Dean caught the sight of his brother falling out of the corner of his eye. He turned towards the grinning man with the bloody blade and fired his heat vision. It sliced through his midsection like butter and his torso fell away from the bottom half of his body.

‘Dean!’

‘Ronon?’ A whip lashed across his chest and tore through his shirt. His indestructible skin was left unmarred. He grabbed the laser whip when it swung at him again and ran around the man holding it in a flash. His body fell apart in several bloody pieces as the whip burned through him.

‘You need to drag the others to the shield! We can’t come out once we’re in here but you can come in!’

‘I will not abandon the others to this fight! I am not affected by their weapons!’

‘Then get them close enough and push them through! I will grab them from this side!’

Dean picked up Jesse and carried him to the force field. He met Tyr’s distraught eyes and pushed his son through the barrier into his waiting arms. The Nietzchean held his son’s prone form until his legs gave out with his grief and he fell to the floor clutching him to his chest.

Dean saw his father’s eyes widen and point behind him. He spun around and smiled as the blade broke off at the hilt when the Agent tried to pierce his chest. He glanced up at the surprised man and drove his fist through his chest. He pulled his hand free of the bloody hole and bent down to pick up Brandon.

He found it vaguely interesting that the Godling was shielding Dorian with his body. He kept Brandon’s chest against his own in an effort to avoid causing his shredded back any further discomfort. ‘Ronon, take it easy with his back! It is torn up pretty bad!’ He extended Brandon’s arm through the shield and allowed Ronon to pull him through.

“Lord Duncan, please help me with him!” He called out as he held Brandon up under his arms. Duncan came forward, wrapped his arms around his waist, and pulled Brandon to his chest. “Take him over there by the statue and try to clean up those wounds!” Ronon turned back to the shield and saw Dean crouched down beside Dorian. ‘Is he alive?’

‘Yeah but not for long if we don’t do something about it.’ He picked him up in his arms, cradled him against his chest, and turned to Ronon. He held his body across his arms and passed him through the barrier. He relinquished his hold when his brother had Dorian by his underarms. ‘I don’t know if there is anything that can be done for him.’

‘There has to be!’ Ronon yelled out in his mind as he lowered Dorian to the floor and cradled his head in his lap. ‘He’s the only one of you that accepted me as a brother…’

~*~

“Three of your precious children are down.” The Abyss laughed insanely as he watched the fire bird curl into herself. “That does not say much for the all-powerful Phoenix, does it? It is only a matter of time before my Agents destroy your latest spawn.”

~*~

“Tyr!” Ronon yelled out again at the Nietzchean who was rocking his son back and forth. “You need to snap out of it and try to heal them! Tyr!”

“He cannot help them, Ronon, so leave him to his grief.” Ian said as he stared into Dawn’s black eyes. “He couldn’t heal the wounds that they inflicted on Alexandra and he has dominion over her body. There is nothing he can do for any of them.”

“Why are you so fucking calm?” Ronon glared at Ian and screamed in rage. “Why don’t you do something to help them?”

“Alexandra is the only one who can heal them.” He furrowed his brow as the infant in his arms reached out and ran her tiny fingers through his beard. “Or maybe Alexandra’s destined heir can heal them.” He whispered.

“What?” Ronon asked in frustration when he couldn’t hear what Ian was saying. “What did you say?”

“Ronon, it is time.” His head snapped up and his white eyes fixed on the Deliverer. “We need to transfer my power to Dawn now!”

~*~

The hollow laughter crawled along her skin like sandpaper and stirred something deep within her soul. She focused her mind on the man that had dominion over that part of her being. Her destined mate…Richard. She could see him within her mind fighting like a crazed being.

He had unleashed his animal upon the evil that threatened his family and couldn’t see anything beyond his rage. His single focus was the death of anything that threatened his mate and cubs. He went into a bloodlust of fury when he saw his son fall and his beast was exacting his revenge.

He was beautiful…and his beast cried out for its mate with every life that he took. “Richard…yessss.” She reveled in his love and desire for her. She closed her eyes as she felt his animal reach out for her and threw her head back when it pierced her soul. A loud screech tore from the beak of the avatar that rolled through the void of space when both Phoenix and Alexandra answered their mate’s call.

She unfurled her wings to their full length and turned her fiery head to Ariana. Her clawed feet extended towards the surface of the planet and unleashed wave after wave of cosmic flame.

~*~

They were outnumbered and it seemed that for every Agent of Evil they destroyed two more would take its place. The frontline still remained intact with Ioan, Riddick, and the Wielders destroying everything they set eyes on. Ares, Brennan, and Dean were all that was left of the second and third line.

They actually stopped fighting and paused for a moment to exchange sad glances. They were the chosen and the children of the Phoenix. The Creator of all things deemed them worthy as mates or gave life to them. They were supposed to be the elite and have come up wanting in everything she had asked of them. The thought entered all of their minds simultaneously.

‘We are nothing without her.’

They nodded their heads at each other and turned to face the enemies of their loved one. A shrill cry sounded in the heavens and they glanced up to see fire raining from the sky. The first wave of flame impacted along the edge of the lake and sent fire and debris flying up into the air.

Each wave that drove into the ground was closer than the last. The flames consumed all wildlife, vegetation, and Agents of the Abyss that it swept across. The rolling wave of fire and debris continued its path towards the temple and drove her enemies closer to her family.

“We need to get inside!” Ioan yelled out over the din of destruction. “Riddick!” He clamped his hand down on his shoulder to draw him to his senses. “They cannot penetrate the barrier! She is killing everything in sight to give us a chance to save ourselves! We need to get inside and let her do what she does best!”

The haze cleared from his eyes as he reined in his beast. He nodded his head at Ioan and yelled out to the others. “Everybody fall back to the temple!” They ran up the stairs, firing on any Agent that got in their path, and one by one passed through the shield. Riddick stopped before he reached the barrier and glanced back at the destructive wave that burned towards him. “That’s my girl.” He smiled as he passed through the field.

Those that were capable stood and watched as the wave approached the temple. Agents were slamming their fists against the barrier trying to reach safety. Others tried to tesseract inside and found themselves repelled off of the shield. Her family instinctively backed up when the explosions reached the door and threw themselves to the ground when the walls and ceiling of the temple exploded.

They opened their eyes or uncovered their faces to see the dust settling around the barrier. The shield held against the concussive blasts and the main hall of the temple was now exposed to the night sky. They glanced up at the fiery bird of power that cried out in defiance into the star-filled void.

A smile briefly graced their haggard features as they watched her rear back and unleash her power on the Abyss. It was a short-lived moment of happiness when they noticed the carnage that lay around them. Riddick saw Dorian’s lifeless form in Ronon’s arms and his heart cried out in agony. He ran to his son, pulled him into his embrace, and screamed.

Ares and Brennan knelt beside Brandon’s bloody body. He was lying face down in front of his mother’s likeness. The God of War made a move to roll him over but Duncan stopped him with a hand on his arm and a shake of his head. The Olympian nodded at his long-time friend and ran his tear-filled eyes over his firstborn’s shredded back. He leaned forward and rested his forehead on his son’s upturned cheek. His body was shaking violently with his restrained sobs.

“Ronon. I need you listen to me.” Ian said to the young man that glanced around at the surrounding horror. He was quickly becoming overwhelmed with the sorrow that filled the barrier and Ian had to get through to him. “Ronon!” He fired an energy blast at his feet and glared into the startled eyes that flashed to his. “Son, you have a job to do. We both do.”

“Ian, she isn’t grown to adulthood yet!” Ronon yelled in despair. “It is not time for this to happen.”

“Ronon, look above you!” Ian pointed at the night sky through the barrier. “Alex is fighting for her life up there! She is bleeding to death from the injuries her sons received. If she doesn’t die before the battle is over, she will be occupied for a long time and will not be able to save her children. If she does die, the Abyss will come down here and finish what he started. Dawn is these boys only chance for survival.”

Riddick’s head snapped up when he heard mention of his daughter’s name. “What are you talking about, Ian?” He settled his son gently on the floor and waved Kyra over to him. “Watch after him for me, baby girl.” He rose unsteadily to his feet and walked over to Ian. “You need to explain yourself.”

“These boys are going to die and there is nothing that Tyr or I can do to stop it.” He explained to Riddick as he handed his daughter over to him. “Dawn can save their lives if we transfer my power to her.”

“How do you know that when your own power cannot heal them?” The Furyan asked as he held his daughter protectively against his chest. “She is just a baby, Ian! How can she possibly know what to do?”

“I know when I die, a portion of my power will transform the boys into the Guardians. That alone will increase their chances of survival.” He glanced at the infant in his arms and smiled with tears in his eyes. “If you remember correctly, your child is very astute of her surroundings and the condition of her mother and family. She will know exactly what to do.”

“Ian…no…” Riddick shook his head and his silver orbs glistened with unshed tears. “It isn’t time yet. You can’t…go. She will…be…devastated.”

“I know she will, my friend, but her family will endure and that is what is important.” He glanced up into the sky at his mate. She and the Abyss were unleashing hell upon each other and the destructive force was taking a toll on the planets and moons in the system. “When she fought this creature before, her only care was her duty as the Protector of Life. She has all of you now and she will die if anything happens to you. We will lose her forever.”

“Ian, she’ll feel…your…death.” His voice hitched as it tightened in his throat. “It will drive her mad…with…grief.”

“I’m counting on it, Riddick.” He grabbed the sobbing man by his shoulders and kissed his daughter on her head as she looked at him with her mother’s eyes. “Do you really think there will ever be a better time to do this without her knowledge of it? She will try to stop us if she had the chance.”

“I know she would.” Riddick nodded his head in agreement.

“Give her to me, Riddick.” Ian held out his arms and stared at the Furyan with quiet resignation in his eyes.

~*~

The anger her animal lent her fueled her power and she unleashed it with one concussive wave after another. He reeled from each impact but still he remained and fired upon her. The force of their power sent shockwaves out in all directions and a nearby moon crumbled in its wake.

The adrenaline rush that she was riding was the only thing that kept up her output of power. The wounds she suffered from the attacks upon her children were taking a toll on her body. She was bleeding to death and it was beginning to wear her down. More of his dark energy was striking her form and weakening her further.

She felt the loss of her mate’s connection to her animal and she faltered for one potentially fatal moment. A giant hand slapped her away like an irritating insect. She tumbled backwards through space with great speed and collided with Ariana’s second moon.

She impacted with such tremendous force that over half of the heavenly body exploded and drifted off into the vacuum. Her body was broken and bleeding within her still avatar. Her wings flapped helplessly at her sides as she tried to regain flight. Her eyes slowly opened when she felt his hand pin her wings to her body and lift her within his tight grasp.

“It is done, Phoenix.” He pulled her close to his head and his blazing eyes bore into her. “Our little game is over.”

~*~

Riddick glanced around at her dying children and her decimated planet. His tear-filled eyes locked on his daughter and she placed her tiny hand over his lips. A loud rumble rocked the ground beneath their feet and they all looked up to see the Phoenix crash into the moon.

Their eyes widened in horror when they saw her struggle to rise and fail miserably. Their hearts clenched with terror when the Abyss wrapped his fist around her and held her defeated avatar in his grasp. “Riddick!” Ian yelled out in despair. “My mate is going to die if we don’t do this now!” He held out his hands in desperation. “Please give me the child!”

He held his daughter up in front of his face, kissed her on her head, and handed her over to Ian. “Ronon, get over here with me.” He commanded and walked over to the altar in front of his mate’s statue. He held the little girl in front of his face and leaned his forehead against hers. “Make sure you explain everything to your mother for me, Dawn.” He said with tears rolling down his cheeks. “Don’t forget to tell her that I will love her until the end of time.”

He smiled when she placed her little hands on his dampened beard. “Thank you, little Phoenix. I know you will make me proud.” He kissed the top of her head and gently placed her on the altar. “Ronon.” He turned to look in the eyes of the tortured young man beside him. “She will not hate you, Ronon. That woman loves you more than life.”

“I am taking her first love from her.” He sobbed brokenly. “How could she possibly forgive me?”

“Come here, son.” He held his arms out and took Ronon in a tight embrace. “She will forgive you because you are saving her family from death. She will forgive you because it is the right thing to do.” He whispered in his ear. “You are saving her life and the lives of everyone she loves. You are giving her the chance to live the life that she has always wanted…and you will be by her side to help her.”

“Ian…I can’t…”

“Ronon, she is dying now.” He pulled him back to arms’ length and looked deep into his eyes. “When she falls, everything will end. The Abyss will destroy all of you first and then tear apart the universe. You cannot let that happen.” The young man swallowed hard and nodded his head. “All you have to do is reach into my chest and extract the Phoenix force. Make sure you hold on to it tight until it has merged with Dawn or it will try to reanimate me.”

“Okay.”

Ian glanced around the room at the crying faces of the men and women of his family. He had lived with them from anywhere between several millennia to just a couple of weeks and he had come to love and respect them all. His eyes settled on his son and the young Phoenix sank to his knees in misery. “Ioan. I love you, my boy.” He smiled with shimmering eyes. “You have made me very proud and happy. I will always be with you, Ioan.”

“Dad…”

“You be a good mentor to your little sister and…be there for your mother. She is going to need you when this is over.” Ioan covered his eyes with both hands and dropped his head to the floor. Ian tore his eyes from his grieving son and exchanged nods with her other mates before he glanced at Riddick. “You make sure you keep the family together during the coming stress.” Riddick nodded his head grimly. “And take care of my woman.”

Riddick gave him a sad smile and clenched his eyes as Ronon drove his glowing fist into Ian’s chest. His scream pierced the souls of everyone present and drove many of them to their knees. Ronon closed his eyes as his fist closed around the spark of his power and winced at Ian’s inhuman wail as he wrenched the Phoenix force free of his body.

His face went ashen. His hands slipped free of Ronon’s shoulders. The white light of his energy faded from his eyes. He turned his head skyward to gaze one last time at the love of his life. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and he let out a sigh. “I finally…get to…save you, my Lady. I…love…you…”

His breath left his body with his last word. The life left his eyes that were locked on his love’s fiery form. He fell away from Ronon and landed with a loud crack on the marble floor. His dead eyes managed to remain fixed on his mate. Ronon heard his brothers cry out when their birthright claimed them and watched the barrier fall as soon as Ian’s life signs faded. He clenched his eyes tight and extended a shaky hand towards his corpse.

He took several shuddering breaths as he worked up the nerve to do his duty and fulfill his birthright. He held the Phoenix force tight in his right hand. His chest rose and fell sharply on the verge of hyperventilation. His whole body tensed and a scream of torment tore from his lungs as he unleashed his green flame on Ian’s body.

Seconds seemed like an eternity to the few that could work up the nerve to watch. In the flash of an eye, Ronon’s power dispatched Ian’s body to the ether. Nothing remained of the man who had spent all of eternity by the side of his one and only love. Her mate…her companion…the first man she allowed to love her was gone as if he never existed.

~*~

High above the atmosphere of Ariana, the Abyss reveled in victory, as the Phoenix lay vulnerable within his grasp. He applied pressure to the fiery bird in his hand trying to crush the life from her. He was slightly disappointed that she was unconscious and deprived him of the pleasure of her screams. A second later, his wishes came true when she began to convulse within his hand and an inhuman cry of agony split the silence of space.

His elation was short-lived as her wings pushed against his restraining fingers and the flames of her body burned thousands of times brighter. He watched her shell clutch her chest and wail along with the Phoenix. Her human body thrashed around in his palm while her avatar pried his fingers apart as she spread her wings.

She knew in her heart that something was horribly wrong. She could feel it in every fiber of her being. She flew away from the startled Abyss, circled him a couple of times, and came to a stop facing him. She was beyond words. All the pain she ever experienced combined couldn’t match what she was feeling now.

There was no rational thought. She did not devise a strategy. She just stared at the evil before her with her dead black eyes. Madness invaded her mind and rage overwhelmed her soul. A brief flash of fear went through her as a single thought flitted through the chaos in mind. ‘This is it. The end.’

The primal fury of her animal pushed the fear aside and she was left with a single focal point. The complete and utter destruction of this creature that brought pain and death to her house was all that mattered. She spread her wings wide and drew on the power of that which was hers to command.

As the power of a trillion stars flowed into her body, the Phoenix grew in size that quadrupled that of the Abyss. To the people that lived within her star system, night had turned to day as she shone brighter than any sun in the universe. She broke off her connection to the stars, not wishing to cause them any damage, and advanced on her enemy.

He tried to make his escape but a set of clawed feet dug into his shoulders and held him fast. He gazed into the heart of the Phoenix and fixed his red glare on female suspended within. She had no emotion on her face as she looked on him with her pitch black eyes. As soon as a fleeting moment of panic coursed through his being, he saw an evil grin form on her face.

His attention snapped to the Phoenix as she reared her head back, screeched into the night, and closed her beak on his head. She tore through his substance with an insatiable hunger and devoured every last trace of her enemy bit by agonizing bit. His dark power coursed through her body and her power slowly began to build to the point of a nova.

~*~

Everyone watched from the temple as the Phoenix overcame her enemy. They saw her draw the power of the stars into her body. They watched her restrain the fleeing Abyss. Then they watched in horror as she ate her adversary. Her power spiked to a level that a handful of them knew was impending doom for every living thing in this star system and a good portion of the next.

Ronon was oblivious to the dangers that his mother was facing. He was implanting Ian’s sacrificed Phoenix force within the body of the infant on the altar. As soon as he sensed they had merged, he removed his hand from the child’s chest and stepped away as she was engulfed in a brilliant light.

The light was pure white and continued to grow brighter. Riddick’s daughter was no longer visible to the eye. Nothing was visible as a miniature star sprung to life within the former main hall of the temple. The Royal Family shielded their eyes from the sunlight pouring from the Phoenix in orbit and the starlight exuding from Dawn before them.

After a few minutes, the miniature star drew its power back into its body. As the spots cleared from their eyes, they glanced at the altar and saw a young woman lying naked upon it. She rose up and swung her legs off the side as she took in her surroundings with wide eyes.

Her gaze fell on the wounded lying around her and she hopped of the marble slab to rush to Dorian’s side. She glanced up into Riddick’s questioning eyes and smiled. “Hi Daddy.” His mouth fell open as she placed her hands on her brother’s chest and abdomen. An all-to-familiar glow of energy encased her hands and seeped into his body. “Come on, Dorian. Open your eyes for me, big brother.”

The blood stopped flowing. His internal injuries healed and his broken skin knit closed. A few seconds later, he drew in a deep breath and his eyes snapped open. “Dawn…” He gasped out. “You…did…it, my sister.”

“Anything for you, big guy.” She kissed him on his forehead and rose to her feet to attend the others.

“Baby…” Riddick said quietly as he grabbed her arm. “Dawn, is that really you?”

“Yes, Daddy. It is really me.” She was an exotic beauty like her mother. She had long, black hair like Alexandra’s but it was straight not curly like her mother’s. Her skin tone was just as tanned. She had long eyelashes that framed her black eyes. She was slightly shorter than her mother. Her body was tone but not as muscular as Alex’s. “Are you alright, Daddy?” She asked her father as he ran his eyes over her nude form.

“I’m fine.” He said shakily as he glanced back up into her eyes. He cupped her cheek in his palm and smiled with tears in his eyes. “You are so beautiful. You look just like your mother.”

“Thank you.” She blushed and averted her gaze. “But I think mother is far more beautiful.” She heard Brandon moan in pain and patted Riddick’s hand. “If you will excuse me, I need to heal my Guardians.” She went to Brandon’s side and ran her hands over his mangled flesh. It knitted closed within seconds and she smiled at the distraught God of War. “He will be fine now. Just give him a little time to rest.”

“Thank you, child.” Ares held her hands between his and gave them a squeeze. “I owe you everything.”

“You owe me nothing. He is my brother.” She stood up, turned, and bumped into her father. “Oops. I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t know you were standing there. Is there something you needed?” She asked as she rushed to kneel beside Jesse and Tyr.

“I am a little curious about something, darlin’.” He asked as she ran her healing touch over Jesse. “Are you gonna be this way from now on?”

“No, Daddy.” She smiled as Jesse blinked his eyes open and stared at her in wonder. “Ian asked me to do a couple of things for him before he died.” She accepted a kiss on the forehead from a grateful Tyr before she stood and faced her father. “He wanted me to heal my brothers…your sons…her sons before their fire was forever lost. He also wanted me to help mother and tell her that he loves her.”

“Uh…speaking of your mother, punkin’…” Logan said as he stared up at the night sky that was fading from the light of the growing sun. “I think Ian’s death threw her off her rocker and we are officially in deep shit.” Logan and Scott suddenly clutched their heads as her voice resonated within their minds. ‘Darlin’.’

‘I need the two of you now.’

‘Baby, you need to relax and concentrate. You can get it under control.’

‘Logan! I am not asking! You swore an oath to me and I need you to fulfill it before all is lost!’

‘Alex…’

‘Just drain enough to get me to Ronon. He has a destiny and the prophecy must be adhered to so my child gets her birthright.’

‘Darlin’…’

‘NOW!’

The two mutants stepped clear of the others and looked at each other with a profound sadness in their eyes. She was already injured and she was so high up. They grabbed each other’s hand and extended their gauntlet-covered forearms towards the sky.

Twin beams of crimson energy shot from their outstretched hands and struck the Phoenix in the core of her being. She screamed out in both of her forms as her excess power was siphoned from her body. She could tell they had not taken enough when they disengaged the power drain but her body gave into her injuries.

The Phoenix force retreated beneath the surface of her skin and Alex felt the life drain from her. She vaguely became aware of the hole in her heart…the scar on her soul that had appeared during that horrible feeling of loss. She reached out with her senses to find her family. She was desperate to know if they were alright but found her mind uncooperative as she succumbed to her wounds and plummeted to the ground.

Her family watched in horror as their wife…mother…mistress fell at a tremendous amount of speed through the atmosphere of Ariana. Her body began to burn as she passed through it and fell faster than any of them could react. The impact shook the ground and a large cloud of dirt and debris flew up into the air displaced by her body.

“ALEX!!!” Riddick screamed out as he saw her form fall to the earth. He turned his head towards his daughter in panic and she stopped him with a finger on his lips.

“I’m already on it, Daddy.” She vanished from the ruins of the temple and reappeared at the edge of the crater that her mother laid within. A sad frown marred her beautiful face as she looked at the burned, bloody body of her mother. She ran down the incline and fell to her knees beside Alex.

She ran her hand over her mother’s face as she remembered the black pools of her eyes. Her gaze shifted to the brand of the Phoenix that was etched into her chest and abdomen. To her surprise, Alex was still breathing and her eyelids began to flutter. “Ian…” Dawn seemed to spontaneously remember that his name was the one she always called out during times of pain and impending death. Her head rolled from side to side like she was caught in a nightmare. “Ian…”

“Close but not quite.” She answered softly as she brushed her mother’s curly dark locks from her face. She gently picked her up in her arms and smiled at her when Alex’s eyes cracked open. “Hi Mommy.” Her mother furrowed her brow and slipped into unconsciousness. Dawn could feel her mother’s pain and knew it was going to grow when she discovered the fate of her First love. A tear slid down her cheek as she teleported them back to the ruined temple.

She reappeared next to the altar and laid her mother down on the marble slab. The rest of her family came closer but Riddick took her face between his hands and cried as he looked at her various wounds and burns. “Alex, please wake up.” He kissed her lips desperately and laid his head down on her chest. He took her hand and held it to his head needing to feel her touch. “Baby, please…I need you.”

“Ian…” She mumbled as she was drawn back to the light of consciousness.

“No, baby.” Riddick winced as he heard her call His name. “It’s me, love.”

“Richard…” She sighed with relief before a smile appeared on her face. “I did…it, baby.” Her eyes were still clenched in pain but she giggled in elation. “I beat…the son of a bitch.”

“You did, baby.” He brushed her hair off of her forehead and kissed her gently. “You did real good. I saw you up there. You looked so beautiful.”

“Are you saying I look like shit now?” She asked in a serious tone. His mouth dropped open and no words came out. He thought he offended her until a grin pulled at the corners of her mouth. “I was…kidding.” She slowly opened her eyes and looked up into his face. The love she felt for him overshadowed the pain she was experiencing and it was there for him to see. She lifted one hand and traced the skin around his eyes. “There is my home. I missed…those shining…stars.”

“You’re back now.” He said as her fingertips followed the wet trails his tears left behind. “That is all that matters.”

“The boys!” The haze of pain lifted from her mind and her eyes went wide when she thought of her children. “Where are my sons? They were hurt!” Panic entered her soul and she struggled against Riddick’s restraining hands to sit up. “Let me go! I have to heal them!”

“Baby, please stay still…”

“I will not let my children die!” She yelled at the top of her lungs with terror in her black eyes.

“They are healed.” A small voice came from behind her husband and Alex strained to see who was speaking. “They are recovering their strength now and should be fine with some rest.”

Alexandra’s brow furrowed and her eyes burned again with her inner fire as she trained them on her mate. “Who is that?” Her hollow voice rang in their ears as she pushed his hands off of her body. She swung her legs over the side of the altar and jumped down on to weakened legs. Riddick tried to steady her but she swatted his hands away and pushed his resistant body to the side. Her gaze settled on the dark-haired beauty that stood as naked as Alex behind her mate. “Who are you?”

The young woman smiled softly at her as she walked up to stand before her. She placed her hand on the Phoenix symbol in the center of Alexandra’s chest and looked up into her mother’s eyes. “I think you know.” She whispered as her hand glowed and a wave of power returned the once bloody and torn body of the Phoenix to her fully healed state.

“No.” Alex whispered as the fire left her black eyes and tears began to form. She shook her head and stared at the reflection of herself standing before her. “This isn’t possible.” She scanned the body of the young woman and her eyes widened when she saw the Phoenix force residing within her. “Ian.” She whispered as she backed away from her child and cast her gaze around her. “Ian!”

“Baby…” Riddick whispered in a broken voice that drew her attention to his tear-filled eyes. “Alex…”

“No.” She shook her head denying what his tortured eyes were telling her. “Ian!” She turned to move through the crowd of her family but the altar barred her path. She grabbed the edge of it and tossed it effortlessly through the air in a panic to find her First. “Ian!” She pushed past several members of her family after she saw their saddened, tear-stained faces. “Ian!”

Her panicked eyes fell on Kyra standing before the statue of Ian. The young woman was crying silently as she rubbed the back of her mate. He was curled up on the floor and sobbing hysterically. “Ronon.” She said as she knelt beside him. She reached out to comfort her child and he flinched away from her touch. “Baby…”

“Please don’t touch me…” He cried as he scampered away from his mother. “I only did what I was told to do…”

“Ronon, come here.” She clutched his retreating form and pulled him to his knees. “What did you do?”

His eyes looked at Ian’s statue for a moment before he peered over her shoulder. Alex turned her head to see what he was looking at and saw the young woman push her way through the crowd. “Mom…” Alex turned her wide tear-filled eyes back to her son and began to shake when it all became clear. “Mom…I’m so sorry.” He threw his arms around her waist, buried his face against her abdomen, and cried out his tormented pleas. “Please…forgive…me! I…love…you! I’m…sorry…”

She looked through her tears at her grieving child and ran her hands over his head and back to comfort him. “I love you too, Ronon, and I always will.” She whispered. Her bottom lip began to tremble. Tears ran uncontrollably down her face as she gazed up at the likeness of her first love.

“Is this what you wanted, Ian?” She spoke to the marble statue. “Was this your great plan? You sacrificed yourself to save me but look at what you left behind.” Her voice hitched as her grief threatened to overwhelm her. “You left our son without his father. Ronon is overcome with guilt. My darling daughter has been robbed of her childhood.” A sob escaped her throat and her body shook as her pain consumed her. “And what of me? What do I do now…that you…are gone?”

“Mother.” Dawn said quietly as she knelt beside her and her brother. “He wants you to live.” She placed her hand on Alex’s cheek when she turned and stared at her with shock in her eyes. “I am to revert back to my original form after I relay his message to you. He knows that you want to live. After centuries of planning your return to the stars, you are finally happy with your life and want to live.” Dawn smiled at her mother’s tear-ridden face with love in her eyes. “He says that he finally gets to save you for a change and he will love you until the end of time.”

“Dawn…please…don’t, baby.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I can’t…take this right…now.”

“He is not lost to you.” She whispered in her mother’s ear and felt her tense at her words. She pulled back to see her eyes had opened and fixed on hers. Her lips parted and she drew in heavy gasps of air. “You know where you can find him.”

“He’s there…”

“Yes.” She nodded her head and kissed her mother on her forehead. “I have done as he asked and it is time for me to go back.” She glanced at her father over her shoulder and waved him over. He knelt beside her and she placed a kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Daddy. Take care of his woman or he will haunt you from the other side.” Riddick’s eyes snapped to hers and she giggled. “He wanted me to tell you that. Now would you be so kind as to hold me so I don’t go splat on the floor?”

Riddick wrapped his arms around Dawn and cradled her in his lap. A light shimmered around her smiling form and he clenched his eyes against the brightness. When it faded, he opened his eyes and stared in wonder at his baby.

“Ronon, my precious.” Alex pried her son’s grip from her waist and pulled him up by the shoulders to look into his eyes. “I love you.” She said in a small voice with tears rolling down her face. “I will always love you. Do me a favor now?” He nodded his head shakily. “Take your wife and return to your chambers.” He nodded again sadly, grabbed Kyra’s hand, and teleported them away. “That’s my precious one.”

She numbly rose to her feet and gazed down at her mate and daughter. “I’ll meet you in our chambers later.” Her voice sounded distant and her body quaked with shudders of terrible pain that needed release. She placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a tender caress. “I love you.”

He covered her hand with his and lent her his comfort through the touch. “I love you too.” She blinked her never-ending tears from her eyes and walked away from him. He watched her stop in the middle of the devastation that she unleashed on her beautiful paradise.

She looked around at what used to be her private sanctuary and hung her head. A moment later, the Phoenix sprang free of her body and she took to the air. They watched her leave the atmosphere of Ariana and hover amongst the stars that she used to call home.

Ioan’s eyes fixed on his mother. He rose to his feet, ran out into the clearing, and took flight. His avatar encased his body as he hurtled through the stars and joined his mother in the void. They looked at each other with heaving chests and tormented eyes. A mother and her son that shared a horrible loss and deep-seated pain.

The Royal Family, the Wielders, the Goddess of Wisdom and Vaako watched the two fiery birds of power in the night sky. They could feel their pain even from this great distance. Their eyes clenched tight and they winced when both Phoenixes and mother and son cried out in agony. The sound tore at their hearts. Fathers comforted their sons. Vaako held the crying Athena in his arms. Riddick held his daughter to his chest with one arm and pulled Dorian’s head to his shoulder with the other.

~*~

Alex had sent Ronon to his room in an effort to spare him more pain but her cries of anguish reached his ears. He covered them with his hands in an attempt to quiet the heartbreaking sound. It had no affect. His mother’s agony tore through his being. He threw his head back and wailed out his misery.

~*~

Alex and Ioan finally quieted down after several minutes of screaming their pain, loss and anger out to their stars. She took her son in her arms and held him to her as she tried to give him comfort. “I love you, baby.” She whispered as she ran her fingers through his dark curls.

His head rested on her bosom and he clutched at her back as he tried to find the solace he so desperately craved. “Mom…” He cried into her chest. “I can’t…”

“I can’t either, love.” She whispered into his hair and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I don’t think I ever will.” She mentally heard her other son crying out in guilt and sighed. “I’m so tired, Ioan. I never thought I could feel so dead inside while I still draw breath.” She lifted his head up and stared into his father’s eyes. “Let’s go home, baby.”

He nodded and she flew them back to the planet. They materialized in his room and she ushered him to his bed. “Lay down, love.” He flopped down on the mattress and she pulled a blanket over his body. She sat beside him and ran her fingers through his hair. “We both need to rest now. Our hearts are heavy with pain and we need to gather our strength.”

“Why?” He asked tiredly. “Do we have another battle coming?”

“No, baby. We do not have any more battles coming other than the fight against our misery.” She leaned forward and kissed him softly on his lips. “Tomorrow…you and I are going to see your father and say what is in our hearts.” He tried to speak but she mentally nudged him into sleep. “I love you.” She whispered before she vanished from his room.

She appeared on the edge of Ronon’s bed and took his trembling body in her arms. “Shhh.” She whispered into his ear as he threw his arms around her and nuzzled his face into her neck. “It is going to be alright.”

“Alex…mom…”

“Ronon, I do not blame you.” She rocked him back and forth in her embrace and shushed him until he calmed. “I am sorry that my cries hurt you but I need to grieve. He was a pain in the ass, Ronon.” She gasped out a tiny laugh before her voice hitched and a sob escaped with fresh tears. “But I loved him.”

“He was the first man that I ever loved.” She choked on her grief and Ronon held her tighter to his body. “He was the first man that made love to me and every single time was like the first. He was beautiful and he was by my side every time I woke from death.” She slumped against his chest as the last of her strength was eaten away by her pain. “Ronon, my precious…take me to my First mate.”

“Mom…” His brow furrowed in confusion and he looked into her eyes praying that she didn’t mean what she said.

“Take me to Richard.” She whispered as her eyes rolled up into her head and she fainted from the trauma she had endured this day. He picked her limp form up in his arms, cradled her against his chest, and teleported them to her room.

~*~

Riddick and Tyr had just laid the children to sleep in their cribs after they had exchanged some heartfelt words over the day’s events. The two men knew they were in for a trying time. Their mate was devastated by her loss and recovery was going to be hard, if not impossible, for her to achieve.

Tyr had said they would all help as much as they could but, as her new First mate, the responsibility would ultimately fall on Riddick. He had complete dominion over Alexandra and the Phoenix. He was the only being left alive that could get her past this horrible tragedy.

Both men exchanged an embrace, kissed their children goodnight, and returned to their bedrooms. When Riddick entered his suite, he found Ronon standing quietly next to the bed cradling Alex in his arms. The young man appeared to be in shock but had settled down considerably since he was last seen.

“Ronon.”

“She asked me to take her to her First.” He walked slowly towards Riddick and handed her limp body over to him. “She said she wanted me to bring her to you.” He watched Riddick settle her in his arms, nodded his head to her mate, and vanished from the room.

He carried her over to the bed, set her in the center, and crawled in beside her. She responded to his warmth that was wrapped around her body and curled into his chest. “Richard…I love you.” She mumbled in her sleep.

He kissed the top of her head and held her shaking body fiercely to his chest. “I love you too, my Lady.” Tears flowed from his clenched eyes and he cried silently into her hair as his body trembled against hers. She was the love of his life. The first woman he had ever loved. The first woman he had ever made love to and she would be the last.

~*~