Riddick raced across the ashy landscape of Crematoria. The hell beast led them over the rough terrain. While the others pushed as hard as they could, Riddick easily kept pace with his guide. A low growl warned him of trouble just before his own instincts took over. The guards opened a turret from the underground tunnel. Guns slid into slots about to line up on the escaped prisoners. They stopped in their tracks only to watch in wonder as the animal responsible for getting them this far pounced on top of the turret roof. It slammed shut while their rescuer did a flip in the air, gave a loud growl before racing off against the rising of the sun once more.
Lord Vaako's ship landed beside the hanger. He sent a scouting party out to look for Riddick. The Purifier watched the man beside him with wise eyes. He still remembered his previous life prior to becoming a Necromonger. He was the last of his people, or so he always believed. Now, there was another that showed him that he did not have to give up everything he was. Inside his heart rejoiced while his outward appearance never wavered.
"There is movement over the ridge, Lord Vaako." A soldier reported, pointing to the east.
The Necromonger leader peered in the direction then grabbed his photon pistol. "It is Riddick. We move now to greet him."
Synchronized stomping feet could be heard, it was as if they were a single entity, one body, with Lord Vaako as the head. He lifted a hand then pointed towards the small hill where they expected their quarry to walk over any moment.
Riddick slowed down causing the others almost to run into his back. He saw the tufts of red fur stand up on his pet's beck as a deep growl emitted from its chest. "We got company boys, get ready."
They watched as twin curved blades appeared from somewhere on his body. The vicious animal moved next to him rubbing against his leg like a large cat begging for attention. It seemed to convey a feeling of support to its adopted owner. The small group rushed over the last small hill straight into a contingent of Necromonger soldiers. Riddick sliced through them with his blades as if they were water. Their weapons seemed to have no effect on him. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the rest of the men who followed him with the hope of finding freedom. Riddick fought his way towards Vaako. His arms rose to take the other man's head when a blast hit him. An evil smile crooked the corner of Vaako's lips as he watched the man who threatened his position go down. Rather than kill Lord Marshall's greatest threat, he left him for the sun to fry. He thought it a fitting end for the man who supposedly knew the deepest pits of Hell. They quickly moved back to their ship, leaving just as the deadly sun's first ray started to peak over the horizon. The spacecraft lifted off, speeding away as the molten heat crept closer to the prone body on the ground.
A shape moved from the shadows to stand beside the fallen warrior. It bent over then easily picked up the large man carrying him into the hanger just as the sun crossed the path where his body once lay. Riddick groaned rubbing his head before coming fully alert. He was on his feet in a flash with his blades ready to slash any unseen enemy.
"Is that any way to greet a friend?" A soft voice asked from the shadows.
He could only make out a soft golden glow, which unsettled him. The dark was his natural habitat his home, and he couldn't see what was right in front of him. A deep growl rattled up from his chest. "I don't have any friends."
"That's too bad. I was hoping we could pick up where we left off." The figure moved out of the shadows.
His eyes narrowed. There stood Lady Anne wrapped in a black cloak with only her beautiful face showing in the dim lighting. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing lady, but I'm not biting."
Buffy pouted, her red-gold eyes flashed at him. "Are you sure you don't want to play? We have a little while before we can leave. Would you prefer me like this?" Her body morphed into the red furred hell beast that led him through the pitfalls of Crematoria.
"What the hell?" Riddick stepped back not sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him once more.
She prowled towards him rubbing against his leg while she purred low in her throat. Her rough tongue came out to lick his hand. He pulled it away, then took another step back. Buffy anticipated his action and was airborne in a heartbeat. She pounced knocking him to the ground as her tongue flicked out to tease his ear. In the blink of an eye, she morphed back to herself, but this time she didn't bother with the cloak. Riddick found himself with his arms full of beautiful bare golden flesh. His fingers instinctively curled around her waist to hold her close.
Her sharp teeth nipped his ear while she purred. "I think that you do want to play. I know that I do. I have wanted to see if you tasted as good as look."
Her words caused his body to react instantly. He grew hard against her stomach. Buffy smiled next to his check while her eyes grew heavy lidded. Riddick smelled her arousal flood the air. His nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath.
He flipped them over so that his powerful body now towered over her much smaller one. "You better be sure you want this cuz there won't be any turning back once we start."
"Shut up and get naked." Her nails raked down his chest, pulling his shirt apart as her lips latched onto his neck. She sucked, licked, and bit him while he wiggled free from his clothes.
Buffy's hands were everywhere at once learning his body as each inch was unveiled. Her existence had been all about duty the last two years and she would never admit it to anyone, but she missed touching someone and having them touching her. Riddick was the first man that broke through her control to light the fire in the woman hidden behind the mask.
He looked down at the bounty laid bare before him. Her nipples contracted into tight peaks that begged for attention. They sat atop full globes that fit his hands perfectly. A long finger flicked a taught peak causing a moan from the woman beneath him. Buffy's hand finished her exploration of his body before focusing on its main objective. She grasped his rampant cock. Her breath hitched at the length and breadth of him. Riddick was larger than any of the men she had known before and she reveled in the exploration of him. Her tiny fingers slid up, then down his length, causing a moan from him. Buffy felt her power as a woman for the first time. She watched Riddick lean his head back and close his eyes when she rubbed the pre-cum around the mushroom shaped head of his hard length. She teased the small opening with her fingers before moving down its length in a strong steady rhythm. He captured her mouth sweeping his tongue in to taste her sweet mouth. Their tongues dueled while they continued to caress each other's bodies. Riddick parted Buffy's wet folds then slid a finger inside her waiting heat. Her hot channel clung to him making his imagination run wild thinking of it doing the same to his dick. He shoved the long digit inside as far as it would go then wiggled it upward hitting all the right spots. Buffy saw spots in front of her eyes, her stomach tightened, then her womb flooded over his finger. Her red-gold eyes stared into his polished silver eyes as if they fed light one into the other, causing both to glow.
"I want you inside me, Riddick. I want your balls slapping against my ass while you slam into me. Every time you shove your dick into me, I want to feel you hit my clit until I can't stand it anymore. I want you to make me scream, Riddick." Her husky voice demanded. She guided him into her waiting pussy. They moaned the instant their bodies joined. Buffy felt him stretching her, filling her. Riddick felt her surrounding him; her muscles squeezed him as he slowly pushed inside, until he was seated to the hilt.
For a moment neither one of them even took a breath, they just took in the sensations each one was giving and taking. Buffy pulled him down for another heated kiss. She nipped at his lips before sweeping her tongue into his mouth. He pulled her hips up, arching back which drove him deeper into her small powerful body. Riddick wasn't sure who or what this woman was but he knew he couldn't get enough of her. Her body clutched him tighter than anything he'd ever felt before. She was a living breathing flame and he was willing to be burned.
Buffy opened heavy lidded eyes to look at the man who played her body like a fine instrument. No one ever made her feel this way before not Angel, not Parker or Riley. She didn't think it was the long years of abstinence either. There was something primal in Riddick that called to that part of her that was pure Slayer. The others never understood or acknowledged it. Angel tried to protect her from it while he hid from that very part of himself. Parker was a clueless jerk. Riley, sweet naïve, Riley, he wanted to be the Tarzan to her Jane but couldn't understand why that wouldn't work.
Riddick rubbed her clit, which brought Buffy back to the very pleasurable matters at hand. Her small hand moved between them to fondle his balls. She squeezed and rolled them, alternating between a firm, then gentle pressure. His pace increased as he moved in and out of her. Riddick hooked her legs up to his shoulders while his hands grasped her slender hips. Buffy arched her back driving him even further inside her. She felt her juices dripping around him and knew she wouldn't last much longer. Slamming her hips down while he pushed up one final time, they both roared with an earth-shattering climax.
Her legs slowly dropped, then he gathered her in his arms, flipping them over so that she lay on top of his broad chest. The only sound in the hanger was their heavy breathing. He brushed his fingers through her long hair, taking this moment of peace before the storm.
Riddick knew he had to have answers and his questions tended to piss people off. He didn't expect this time to be any different.
"Go ahead and ask what you want to know." A soft voice interrupted his internal monologue.
"How did you get here? Why are you here? How do you morph like that?" The questions rolled off his tongue surprising even him.
"It's a pretty long story. I'm not sure we have time for all of it. If we plan to make it back to Hellion, we are going to have to leave soon. I will give you the short version. I'm not from here, this world, this universe. I guess you could say I'm a warrior. Anyway, I had to fight a really tough guy close to what the Lord Marshall is here. The only way to kill him was to do a spell to give me extra - oomph. Problem is the spell had an expiration date and I missed it. Now, I'm stuck with the 'oomph' which changing what I look like is only a part. The Big Kahunas that think that they run all the universes brought me to your world to help take out the Lord Marshall. Only problem is I can't do it myself, I can only help you do it because they have a stupid prophecy that says so." Buffy finally took a breath. She had done a perfect impression of a Willow ramble.
Riddick's eyes grew cold and distant. "Then this was just to get me to go after the Lord Marshall? You could have saved the pity fuck, lady, walking in there is a suicide mission. No thanks, I'll be taking this ship and finding a nice place to lay low."
A harsh laugh sent shivers down his spine. "You must be the most pitiful man in the universe if you consider that a pity fuck. It is fine with me if you don't want to go after him. You probably couldn't take him anyway. Now, I can do what I've wanted to do all along, kill him myself." She scrambled off him, stepped away, spun around,as she completed the spin she stood dressed in the clothes of a Necromonger warrior.
He missed the warmth of her body next to his. Riddick didn't want to admit it, but the idea of this woman fighting the Lord Marshall terrified him. He couldn't bear the thought of her dieing. "What can you do against him?"
In a blur of movement, she spring across the room at him. Riddick tried to defend himself but she was like a flame licking at his feet. The next thing he knew she stood above him with her foot on his throat while her red-gold eyes glowed ferally.
"Don't ever underestimate me, Riddick. I've fought things that would make Necromongers run in fear since I was fifteen years old. Now, you don't want in on this fight, fine. Can't say I blame you. Get in and I'll drop you off in whatever corner of hell you want to hide." Buffy hit the release for the ship's door. She ducked inside, then moved quickly to the pilot's seat, strapped in and started flipping switches.
He grabbed his clothes, following her onboard. "Do you even know how to fly this thing?" Pulling his pants, Riddick sat in the passenger seat glaring at her. He wasn't sure what angered him more; Anne making him or himself for caring.
A smirk crossed her lips when she slammed the thrusters forward, causing the ship to shoot from the hanger. Riddick's body pressed back into the seat as they blasted through Crematoria's atmosphere. She maneuvered the ship into open space.
"Where do you want to go?" Buffy's voice sounded bored, but in actuality, she was furious. She spent two years leaning to control her powers. The Powers refused to allow her to use them to take out the Lord Marshall. They bet everything on Riddick cleaning up the mess. Now, he refused to play ball. She didn't blame him. If she had a choice all those years ago, she's not sure she would have picked up the gauntlet either. No, she was angry because she knew something even the Elementals didn't know. The PTB could have stopped the Lord Marshall long ago, but they didn't like to get their hands dirty. They would rather manipulate their 'warriors' like pawns on a chess board.
"Why do you want to take him out so bad?"
"Remember the spell that I told you about? It gave me the ability to look inside a person, to the deepest part of them." She paused to glance briefly at him. "When I look into him I see all the souls he's stolen. They're trapped inside, screaming to be set free. Plus, he pisses me off."
Riddick chuckled at the last statement. He got quiet once more as his thoughts turned to Jack and Imam.
"He's not dead, ya know. We just made it look that way, so they wouldn't go after him. A friend of mine took him and his family somewhere safe."
"Stay out of my head; you don't have any right poking your nose in my business," he growled.
"Calm down, big boy, I did read you when we first met and I heard the others tell you about her. Imam told me the rest. I'm sure you pride yourself on showing no emotions, but if someone knows what to look for they can see what you're thinking about. You don't have much time to choose where you want to go. I have to go back before they figure out I'm gone. What'll it be?"
Stars and planets shot by in a blur of light. The ship easily maneuvered around asteroids and other space debris. Buffy flew the spacecraft as if she did so on a daily basis. A small grin teased the corner of her lips when she thought of horrible driving reputation on Earth.
"How am I supposed to take out this guy?" Riddick asked after a few moments of quiet.
"Funny you should ask that question. I have an idea, but you would have to trust me." She turned to look him square in the eye, ignoring the fact that they were racing through space.
"I trusted a man once and he betrayed me. Why should I trust you?" Riddick's gravelly voice seemed to echo in the close quarters.
"That's the funny thing about trust no one can give you a reason why. It either is or isn't. All I can say is that if you trust me there's a chance to stop him once and for all."
Riddick looked deeply into her eyes. "How come you didn't say we 'would' stop him? Aren't you all powerful?"
"I'm not a fool. Nothing is guaranteed especially where the Powers are concerned and I don't lie. The minute that you think nothing bad is going to happen it does. That's all the reassurance I can give you. There is only one planet left before we return to Hellion, so it's now or never."
"Tell me this plan of yours then I'll tell you how we can make it better."
Buffy's laughter rang out through the ship. It tickled Riddick's sensitive hearing making him want to hear it again.
The ship landed just outside of New Mecca and the warriors melted into the shadows. They were two wraiths, one large, one small that sped through the town. She placed her hand on a hidden panel at the Monolith's base causing a door to spring open.
Riddick stopped when he saw the Purifier standing there. "What is this, a set up?"
"Would you just get over yourself? He's my friend and is here to help. Now, shut up and come on." Buffy growled, yanking him inside with her. She startled him once more with her strength. He wondered if he would ever figure her out. They got to Buffy's rooms unseen. She turned to the Purifier seeing the worry in her friend's eyes. "Tell me what's happening?" Her hand patted the place beside her on the couch, ignoring Riddick who leaned against the wall looking like a big jungle cat.
"He says that we are ready to journey to Underverse, lady. That we have the army that we need to rule."
Buffy squeezed the Purifier's hand. "Don't worry, my old friend, it isn't going to happen. They'll be freed, I promise. Has he asked about me or has Nierra done a good job?" Buffy's voice changed when she spoke about her Elemental guardian and Riddick noticed. Before the Purifier could speak, a light mist entered the room. It grew into a heavy fog that took shape and form as Nierra appeared. "Can't you ever just walk into a room, Ni? You do have feet. Weren't you the one harping at me all those years that just because a person has the power to do something doesn't mean they should unless there is a need?" She didn't raise her voice, but the cold edge of her words caused everyone to pause in place.
Nierra would have blushed if it were possible for her blue skin to do so. "I'm sorry, Buffy; moving about this way is the same as breathing for an Elemental. There is to be a celebration tonight for Lord Vaako's successful destruction of Riddick. The Lord Marshall plans to leave for Underverse in the morning. I visited my mother before arriving here and..." The tiny blue waif rang her hands trying to think of a way to tell her charge the news that wouldn't result in her immediately going for the Lord Marshall's throat for more reasons than one.
"Spit it out, I already know I won't like it!" Buffy shot up from the couch to pace the room.
"The Powers visited mother and revealed why the Lord Marshall destroys the worlds rather then leaving them. He needs the souls in order to have enough power for the ships to pass through into Underverse. The Necromongers will be little more than slaves. Only the upper echelon will be spared, it will be worse than anything you or I can every imagine."
Riddick pushed off the wall. His large body didn't make a sound as he prowled across the room to tower over Nierra. "Let me get this right, Jack died when that bastard blew up the planet she was on but that wasn't enough, he sucked her soul up as well?"
Buffy placed a calming hand on his arm. "We can set her free, Riddick, if we work together. We can set them all free. I know that she's all that you care about, but the others don't deserve to be trapped anymore than she does. Are you with me on this? I can do this without you, but it has a greater chance of working if we do it together." Her large eyes were once again their true red-gold which glowed with an eerie light.
They seemed to burn into the soul he no longer thought existed. "I'm in, when do you want me to crash this party?" He gave her a slow, sexy smile.
Buffy pulled him down for a slow passionate kiss ignoring their audience. "We make a good team, Riddick, in so many ways. Let's see if we can say the same when we kick ass. This has to go like clockwork or it won't work. Are you sure that you're up to the challenge?" She teased him as her lids grew heavy lidded and her nipples tightened. She plastered her body next to his, moving it slowly up and down, touching him with light caresses.
"Be careful what you wish for, it may be more than you ever thought possible." He wanted nothing more than to rip her clothes off and repeat the scene in the hanger bay.
She stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. "When this is over, I promise to make what we did in the hanger looked like child's play. Let's go kick ass, then come back here and get all sweaty."
Riddick growled as he large hands cupped her firm ass to pull her up his body. She wrapped her legs around his waist placing her sex directly over the top of his. "I'm going to hold you to that and a whole lot more. There won't be a single inch of your body that I won't touch, taste or explore."
Buffy felt a shiver of delight. "Promises, promises. Let me change back into Lady Anne, then we'll be ready to get this party started." She slid down his body making sure to touch him everywhere that she could reach. He growled at the loss of contact, but she gave him a saucy smile, sauntering off to get dressed.
Buffy went into her dressing room, returning after twenty minutes transformed once more into the cool persona of Lady Anne. She wore a dress of vibrant silver that made her golden skin and hair glow. Her green eyes showed no emotion.
"Does everyone know what they need to do?" She happily saw everyone nod. "Good let's get this over with." She glided towards the door, but Riddick stopped her.
He pulled her to him for a surprisingly gently kiss. "For luck."
She grinned. "I don't need luck, I've got you." With those words lingering in the air, she left the room.
He looked at the other two occupants. "Is she always like that?"
"You have no idea. Buffy is an enigma much the way you are. That is why the Powers wanted the two of you to work together. They hoped that you would balance each other out."
A bark of laughter echoed in the room. "Buffy, her real name is Buffy."
Nierra turned a sickly pale blue. "She'll kill me for telling you. People have always made fun of her name. If you are as smart as I think you are, then I wouldn't say anything about knowing her real name. If she wants you to know, she'll tell you herself."
The Purifier held the door open for the other two. He looked pointedly at Riddick. "Come, we must be ready for her signal. If you would like to know of your past, of the people you descend from I can help."
"What could you know about it or me?"
"You would be surprised." With that cryptic answer, the Purifier left the room followed by Nierra with Riddick bringing up the rear.
The halls were eerily empty. The closer they got to the great hall stomping and cheering could be heard. Peeking around a large column careful to stay out of sight, they watched Buffy walk forward like a queen. The crowds parted for her as she glided through the crowded room.
She caught several people's eyes along the way, giving them subtle nods. Buffy stopped at the bottom of the steps to look up at the arrogant man. A man who thought it was his right to steal others souls to fuel his own dreams of grandeur. The Lord Marshall gave up his own willingly to be allowed to enter Underverse. He was a willing student who learned his lessons well. Once he learned all the dark mecca could teach him, he left to bring back enough souls and slaves to power it for eternity with his hand at the helm of course.
Buffy saw the brilliance mixed with insanity behind his dark eyes. She knew everything she'd worked for the last two years would be for nothing if they didn't kill this man tonight. Buffy heard the noise in the great hall slowly die away as they Necromongers watched their leader and the woman who intrigued him.
The Lord Marshall stared down at the petite beauty basking in the power of this moment. He would announce his plans to take them all to Underverse and that Lady Anne would join him as his queen. She would, of course, be most honored to rule beside him. What woman wouldn't be.
Dame Vaako's eyes narrowed when all eyes turned away from her husband's victory at the entrance of her rival. She had to find a way to rid herself of this woman before they got to Underverse.
"Lady Anne, come join me by my side." The Lord Marshall held his hand out to Buffy. "I would have you here with me when I make several momentous announcements."
Buffy gave him a seductive smile after taking several steps she stopped then turned back towards the Necromongers. "I understand that the Lord Marshall has announced that it is time to go to Underverse." Shouts caused the golden hall to tremble once more; Buffy raised her hand and they stopped to hear her speak. "Are you sure that he speaks the truth about the wonders that Underverse holds for each of you? Has anyone ever returned to tell the truth of the Underverse but the Lord Marshall? Why did he need so many soldiers and to destroy so many planets before he was worthy to return?"
Gasps were heard throughout the halls; Dame Vaako's lips crept into a malicious smile seeing her enemy commit political suicide.
The Lord Marshall's face flushed with anger. His hand arced forward to sweep Buffy away as he had so many other soldiers with his demonic powers but they had no effect on her what so ever.
She turned to look at him with an innocent smile on her face. "What's the matter have you forgotten how to fight like a true Necromonger? Is the only way that you know how to face an enemy anymore is with the use of the stolen powers of others?"
"I was a Necromonger before you were even born. Do not speak to me of facing an enemy as a true soldier. I will face my enemy in true Necromonger battle. Clear the floor and let the battle begin."
A large shadow crept around the column until it stood clearly outlined in the archway. "I was hoping that you would say that."