***
Waters didn’t take offense to the insubordinate anatomy lesson. They were men starved of their wives and girlfriends. Typical men, too, sadly. The only thing she wasn’t going to let slide was their attempts to corrupt the Furyan kid before he could fluently speak English. Pond stood next to Waters outside the ship, him sweating away while standing at rigid attention.
Riddick was clean and dressed in a brown t-shirt, BDU pants, and combat boots. He looked like a kid fresh out of basic. The only thing he lacked was carrying himself with discipline. At first he hadn’t wanted to keep the boots on, but when Markham guided him over rocky terrain he hadn’t wanted to touch and discovered it didn’t hurt, Riddick took to his boots with open fascination. He marched all around the makeshift campsite, seeing what he could stomp on without getting hurt. The squad watched with stun guns at their sides. They let the kid enjoy himself while Waters took the opportunity to study the Furyan, watching how he moved like a predator, and seemed to have his attention on everything around him. She made a mental note to not underestimate the kid. “Pond,” she said crisply.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Do you want your punishment now, or when we get home?”
“Home, please.”
“As you wish.” Making him sweat while at attention for the past fifteen minutes was sufficient punishment for now, but only for now. “At ease.” She didn’t want to dehydrate any of her men faster than Furya’s tropical climate already was. That and she didn’t want to discipline them in front of the kid.
Pond let out a sigh of relief. “The Jade Dragon returns to her slumber. Thank god!”
“For now,” Jade Waters, a.k.a. the Jade Dragon, said. She’d earned that nickname long ago. It praised her prowess as a leader and complimented her hard-ass side most knew better than to taunt. She’d been top pick for this mission. “Go round everyone up. Time to search for more natives.”
4.
Riddick’s behavior was improving exponentially, especially after learning the word “no.” He’d also learned his name and now they didn’t need stun guns out to correct him. Comforting as that was, Waters kept her guard up around him. There was a tension underlying all his movements, like he was always ready for fight or flight. She wanted to trust him and wanted him to trust all of them, but they hadn’t reached that point yet. She hadn’t forgotten how Riddick had tried to push Pond out of the tree, and he more than likely hadn’t forgotten his pet wolf-thing.
Waters flew the ship low over the canopy, low enough to blow aside the treetops with her quadra jets just like the bear had earlier. The sun shined down on her right, making it somewhere around mid afternoon in this time zone.
Waters felt a presence behind her. Riddick stood there, his intense gaze watching the canopy whip by below. “Well look who’s left his corner,” she said happily. The poor kid had been terrified while the ship made all sorts of noises during warm-up and takeoff. They’d tried to coax him to a passenger chair so they could strap him down, but he lashed out with savage fury at anyone who tried to get close. Spark had kept an eye on him and stun gun handy, but the kid just stared back, crouched on all fours while jammed under a weapon rack near the hatch.
The ship’s cabin was one half-circle big enough to accommodate ten soldiers. It had ten cryo-tanks lining the walls, weapon racks on each side of the ramp, a gunner chair on each flank, two pilot chairs with two rows of four passenger chairs behind them, and reinforced glass divided into segments along the nose of the craft. Ninety percent of the ship was purgeable fuel tanks, so the whole ship looked like a sleek torpedo with a few extra curves to create airfoils, along with retractable wings attached to the belly. The wings were out.
Riddick stared longingly at the trees. “Rrr-d’ck.”
“No, Riddick,” she said gently. “We’re not going back for your wolf.” He hunched his shoulders. “I’m sorry.”
He straightened up and looked at her. “I’m sorry?”
“That’s what you say when you hurt someone’s feelings. You’ll understand one day.”
He turned back to the jungle. “I’m sorry.”
Waters wanted to go maternal and pull the kid into a hug, but she resisted, feeling torn between fearing the kid’s feral side and wanting to help him feel safe. Still, there was one thing she could do right now. “Everybody grab some food. Spark, you’re in charge of feeding Riddick.” The kid perked up at the mention of his name. “Yes, Riddick. Here’s your new word: food.”
“Food?”
The cabin filled with the din of men shuffling around and opening plastic containers and wrappers. Spark appeared with some cheese and an open package of jerky. The mouth-watering smell reminded Waters how hungry she was, but she’d stick the ship into autopilot mode after everyone else ate.
Riddick sniffed the air. “Food?” Spark handed him a beef-flavored stick. The kid accepted and sniffed it but didn’t eat. Spark tore off a bite of a second stick and ate it. He handed over the rest of the stick. Riddick tore off a bite and experimentally chewed, then brought his hands close to his mouth and began wolfing down the jerky. His eyes darted around as if he expected them to try and take his meal away. Spark handed over the rest of the jerky and Riddick snatched it up.
“Congratulations, Spark,” Waters said. “You’re his new best friend.”
“Even after all that time you spent with him in the shower?” he said with a grin.
“Keep that up and I’ll punish all of you, instead of just Flower Boy.”
“Yes, ma’am. Would you like some cheese?”
“Actually, I would.” Why wait for food when it was brought to her?
Spark held it out but Riddick snatched the package before Waters could turn around.
“Food.” He took a huge bite, plastic wrapper and all, then made a face and dumped it on the floor. “Food. No.”
Spark picked it up. “You gotta take it out of the wrapped, kid.” He peeled the non-bitten end open and held it up, pointing at the cheddar. “Food.” He pointed at the wrapper. “Food no. Not food.” Then back at the cheddar. “Food. Understand?”
Riddick snatched it back, took an experimental bite, then a bigger one and swallowed. “Food,” he said with a smile.
Water bottles were passed around. Waters checked her fuel levels, then set the ship into autopilot and joined them in a late lunch.
5.
They came in low on a Furyan civilization. It looked ancient Mayan. There were pyramids sticking out between the trees, along with blocky stone structures laid out in grid formation around the pyramids. The grids were perfectly aligned with the planet’s nautical directions. No life was visible to the naked eye.
Waters switched on two screens built into the control panel, one hooked up to a belly cam with high zoom power, the other hooked up to a thermal cam. “Pond, Markham, man the stations,” she said, meaning the side gunner seats. “Kenner, Spark, come help me look for Furyans.” Kenner took the seat next to her and Spark hovered behind them, bouncing his gaze between the screens and window. Riddick drifted to Waters’ side but kept his eyes on the civilization.
“What the hell happened here?” Kenner said in a subdued tone. “I don’t think there’s anyone to shoot us down.”
The place looked like it had been through a war. Most of it lay in ruin with debris everywhere. Among the ruins lay broken black space ships of varying styles and sizes, some sleek like fighter craft, others massive and bulky like cargo craft. The bulky ones had ebony faces with gaping mouths and blank eyes. The crafts starkly contrasted what was left of the Furyan civilization like a smashed up checkers board.
Spark said, “Well, all we know for sure is that Necromongers clashed with the Furyans. Now we just have to find out if there’s been total genocide or not.”
“I’m leading towards genocide,” Markham said, “even with Riddick here.”
“I’m not. Too tall of a tale. How would we have even heard about this if there hadn’t been survivors fi
fteen years ago?”
“Okay, you win this one.”
Waters said, “Well, we heard about Furya thanks to the spies tailing the Necromongers.” She dipped the ship and slowed to a crawl. Kenner watched the screens. She, Spark, and Riddick scanned the scenery with their eyes. “There were mixed messages surrounding whether they murdered just the males or indiscriminately. Intel never touched down on Furya ‘cause the Necros left in a hurry.”
“Why would they go through all this trouble to kill just males?” Spark said. “And for what purpose?”
“It doesn’t make sense if you ask me,” Pond said.
“No,” the rest of them chorused.
Spark said, “What would make more sense is if they’d just destroyed the planet, like they always do.”
“We’re forgetting about including the Furyans in the equation,” Waters said. “It’s not like they just sat here and let themselves be slaughtered. No clue what kind of technology they used to put up such a big fight.”
“Maybe they ran off with all their high tech stuff to another civilization. There’s metal and piping among the stonework that doesn’t match the goth Necro stuff.”
“Heat signature on thermal!” Kenner yelled, point at the left screen.
Waters veered the ship towards the humanoid shape and touched down next to a large pyramid that was half intact, half crushed by a fighter ship. The heat signature came from within the pyramid. “Kenner, bring the kid with you and guard him at all times.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Everyone arm up and move out.”
They hurried off the ship and slowed to a cautious pace once they were right outside the half of the pyramid that was still standing. Pond led them in with Markham’s guidance from a handheld thermal cam. Spark followed behind, dual-wielding a stun gun and pistol. Waters entered fourth with Kenner and Riddick bringing up the rear. Riddick imitated their stealth tactics. She was surprised he hadn’t attempted to run off the moment they’d let the ramp down. Maybe he’d started trusting them more, especially after being fed. Or maybe that was a bit of a stretch and he was behaving just because everyone had guns in hand. Whatever it was, she was thankful for the cooperation. She’d deemed it unwise to cuff and strap him to a passenger chair. She didn’t want to test his escape skills with no eyes on him, much less return to a sabotaged ship cabin.
The pyramid’s interior was beautifully lit with glowing crystals, giving the place an exotic feel. The sound of cascading water reached their ears. They could smell its moisture. Mold lined the corners and cracks in the stonework, making the tight corridors extra aromatic.
A few twisting corridors in, more light greeted them. They passed under a stone archway into a broad vaulted room that sat under the pyramid’s apex. Light beams coming in at angles from the ceiling hit a large crystal sitting atop a three-tiered fountain in the middle of the room. The crystal bounced light off strategically placed mirrors, which fully lighted the chamber and made the water shimmer.
“What the--?” Markham exclaimed. “The heat signature just vanished.”
“Did it run off?” Pond said.
“No, more like fell to the ground somewhere near the fountain. Either that or there’s too much light bouncing off everything.” He tucked the device away and drew his stun gun.
Waters said, “Spark, keep an eye out for movement. Everyone spread out and surround the fountain.”
Guns at the ready, the squad fanned out. The room looked like a place people convened to eat and socialize. The floor lowered in tiers to the central fountain like the Acropolis back home. Stone benches lined the walls. Everything was covered in fallen rocks and dust. No blood or bones, no bullet holes or plasma craters. Outside there’d been skeletons and Necromonger uniforms full of bones. They’d have to go back and investigate the dead later.
There was nowhere to hide in or around the fountain. Guns leading the way, Pond exited the chamber via the back archway. Seconds later, he popped back into the room wearing a frown. No one can get out that way. Cave in.”
“And why are all of you searching for Furyans when you have one among you?” said a rich female voice.
Everyone faced the fountain. Riddick jumped back and let out a warning growl. “Water. Girl.”
Kenner put a protective hand on Riddick’s shoulder, then positioned himself between him and the fountain.
The voice said, “Please don’t shoot. I mean no harm.”
“Then show yourself!” Waters said. They trained their weapons on the fountain.
A portion of the cascading water arced father out as it fell into the pool, then it swirled upwards and filled out in the shape of a face with a curtain of hair. The watery head rose into the air, followed by a slender body full of sensual curves wrapped in a skin-tight dress. The face, neck, and arms took on human skin tones, the hair a rich black with a green sheen, and the eyes a deep ocean sapphire. The dress matched her eyes.
Waters kept expecting the woman’s hair to grow longer as the lady’s hair shimmered like a cascading waterfall. She shook her head to stop herself from staring and said, “Identify yourself and state your purpose for being here!” She kept her rifle trained on whatever it was exactly she was aiming at.
The lady smiled. “My name is Aquarion. I’m of the elementals from planet Quintessa. Like you, I came here seeking protection and answers.”
“What answers?”
“How to defeat the Necromongers.” Aquarion drifted to the edge of the pool, then gracefully stepped up and out.
Riddick growled again. “Girl. No.”
“Our calculations brought me to Furya.” She sauntered over to Riddick. He bared his teeth but she just smiled. “Have you found other Furyans?”
“Not alive,” Waters said. “Now how can I trust that you’re not lying about being against the Necromongers?”
Aquarion considered her words a moment, then frowned. “You can’t. And how can you prove to me that you fear them as much as I do?”
“We don’t fear them. We’re trying to protect ourselves from them.”
“As are we.” Aquarion reached for Riddick’s forehead. He gave her another warning growl, giving her pause.
Kenner said, “Touch him at your own risk, lady.”
She ignored him. “It’s alright, young Furyan. I am an ally.”
“No.”
She reached again and Riddick dodged and lashed out. Her arm up to the elbow became water, which elongated. A watery hand reached out and covered Riddick’s forehead. He stopped and stood there, eyes wide with confusion.
Waters aimed her rifle but hesitated. She’d just watched Riddick’s fist go right through Aquarion with no effect. Bullets would most likely yield the same results. She swapped her rifle out for a stun gun and hesitated again. If she shot the Elemental while in physical contact with Riddick, he’d get stunned too. But... considering how fast he’d--
Aquarion’s hand solidified then peeled away. She spoke just above a whisper. “Such delicate odds surrounding this one.” She backed away, giving Riddick a respectable amount of space.
Waters lowered her weapon. “What did you do to him?”
The Elemental faced her. “Read his memories. It’s my specialty as a water Elemental. This boy was born the same year the Necromongers came to Furya. He was strangled with his own umbilical cord and left for dead. Other Furyans took care of him for a couple of years, but they died. Now he’s as wild as the jungle he grew up in.”
“He’s rapidly learning how to be civilized.”
Aquarion laughed. “You don’t tame a Furyan. Have you never heard the stories?”
“No, but I’d rather hear them from a Furyan; not you.”
She gave Waters a conceding nod. “Understandable. How much of Furya have you searched? I’ve been here for days. He’s the first living one I’ve come across.”
“This is our first stop. Can you tell us anything about what happened here? How did the Furyans fight them off?”
>
Aquarion thought a moment. “Furyans are powerful. The Necromongers underestimated them.”
When the Elemental didn’t elaborate, Waters said, “That’s it? After all the conquering they did, they botched the job with Furyans?”
“I thought you wanted to hear the truth from a Furyan.”
“I do,” she said unhappily.
“And since this one has so few answers, may I take him off your hands?”
Kenner stepped closer to Riddick and tightened his grip on his rifle.
Waters said, “No. He’s still useful to us.” She crossed the room and stood beside Riddick. The kid shifted so one shoulder was protectively in front of her. Waters felt touched that he’d do such a thing, but at the same time she wanted to snap at him to stand down like he was one of her soldiers.
“I will respect your wishes,” Aquarion said, inclining her head. “I’ve scoured the planet north and east of here. For all I know they’ve hid underground. I lack the time and supplies to search much longer.” She studied Riddick. “Be careful with this one. The odds surrounding him are so delicate. You may come to regret taking him with you, but the rest of the universe may thank you one day.”
“What are you talking about with all this odds crap?”
“The Elementals have prophets among our kind. All of us run calculations based on their words and help restore balance wherever it tries to slip away.”
Waters narrowed her eyes. “Our world has seen its share of prophets and end-of-the-world predictions, all of said predictions turning out to be a load of crap. I can’t say otherworldly prophets would carry much weight back home.”
“That is also understandable,” Aquarion said with a soft smile.
“We make our own futures by directing our efforts towards the desired outcome.”
“Then we are the same, but with different approaches. And in the name of such things, I must continue my search. Farewell.” Aquarion stepped into the pool and her formed turned into water. The water that was her head roped to the crystal above the fountain, then trailed along a light beam, casting rainbows all over the room. Her form poured through a light hole and vanished without leaving a drop behind, letting the fountain’s cascade to fill the silence.
Pond said, “What? Too good to use the door?”
“Guess so,” Markham said.
“Everyone head back out,” Waters said. “We’re gonna collect a couple of corpses for autopsy, then search other civilizations until fuel levels tell us to turn around and go home.” She holstered her stun gun and led the way out.
6.
With aid of protective gear, the squad collected one Necromonger and one Furyan corpse. They bagged and sealed them tightly so there’d be minimal stink on the ship by the time they were delivered to morticians on Earth. They also gathered abandoned weapons that belonged to both sides. Riddick watched them somberly. It was hard to tell what he was thinking and feeling. How much of all this did he understand? Spark kept a constant watch on him, but the kid didn’t look like he was planning his escape anymore. Still, for all they knew, he was trying to lure them into complacency so he could sneak off when no one was looking.