The Darkness Calls

The Darkness Calls
Title: Hot planet
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the craziness that spews out of my head. Own nothing else! Cross my heart! ^_^ All characters belong to their respective owners, and all that. That means I own nothing and have zero money, Z E R O. . . Don’t sue me, it would cramp my creativity. Own nothing!
Author notes & Warnings: M/M fanfic. No Beta. Be afraid. My mood affects my writing.
WARNING!!!!!! Talk of MPREG! Nursing of babies will happen!! Blood and death and what not. If you don't like don't read this chapter.

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Nearly toppling over Xander held onto another person’s pod. He could hear Greg and a woman’s voice yelling to one another, all panicked and angry. Raising a brow as the door connecting the passengers cabin to the crews closed, Xander stumbled toward it. Some people were waking up and getting out of there cryo tubes. Xander raised a brow as a blue eyed curly haired man fell to the floor, funny it didn’t even cross his mind to catch the guy.

“What the hell’s going on?!!” Asked the guy.

Xander shrugged. “Don’t know. This is my first shuttle ride.”

After that was said there was suddenly a powerful jolt that caused them to fall to the floor. The cop guy on his face, Xander to his knees( cause come on! Cat here!). Watching as walls ripped away, and pods fell into the dust Xander gripped at the floor, his strong claws digging into the metal. One or two of the other people went flying out, disappearing into the dust. Gasping as he saw Rebecca’s pod hanging by a few wires, Xander aloud himself to slid a little farther down to wrap his tail around it. He managed to hold the pod for a minute before it slipped away like many others. Cursing Xander held onto some wires and metal till the wild ride slowed. It seamed to go on forever.

When it did stop everything jolted forwards, trashing the cabin. Coughing up dust Xander pushed some heavy beams of metal off his legs. Rubbing his eyes Xander stood on shaky legs and looked around. Just as he was getting his balance and brains back where they belong Xander heard the tell tale signs of something creaking above his head. Looking up Xander gasped as a very sharp and jagged piece of metal came hurling down at him. Can anyone say painful and slow death by kabobing? Can ya? About to jump out of the way Xander gasped as a hard packed stone like body crashed into his, knocking them clear of kabobing death. Through he was now gasping because a body twice as heavy as he was was on top of him cutting off his air. Xander looked into frosted silver eyes and simpered. “Um . . . Hi.”

Riddick tipped his head to the side smirked then rolled off of Xander, but made sure everything that could touch did. He was gone in an instant. How he got away so fast in chains Xander did not know, but he did look pretty cool doing it. Shifty like.

Getting up Xander started helping the scared survivors. It was either that or sit on the floor and hope ‘The Riddick’ would come back. Suddenly Xander wasn’t so bored anymore. Maybe the pod box cage thing wasn’t so bad, you don’t fall for super killer badass’ when you’re asleep. At least not sane people. Xander blamed being a Milithre for his interest in Riddick and the heat pooling in his body. It was some freaky cat gene that wanted him to map Riddick’s body with his tongue. Had to be.

Helping a little Arab boy out of his pod, Xander went looking for Greg. He needed to thank the man. Xander had seen him pry the lock-down doors open. He had saved a lot of people today. But from what little he remembered of the man that was a thing Gregory Owenland did all the time.

“Hay, Owens! Where are you? Owens?” Xander frowned.

“Don’t touch it! D-don’t you touch that handle!!!” Owens voice broke out. He sounded dazed. Hurt. High pitched and shrill.

Everyone was gathered around the front of the ship, some had that morbidly fascinated look on their faces. The looked you get when you see a car crash first hand, or watch animals get slaughtered, or watch someone die. And since there were no cars and he wasn’t hearing the cry of bunnies or cows, someone was dying.

“Get it out of him!!”

“No, no, no, it’s too close to his heart!”

Picking up speed Xander pushed his way passed the watching people. He hissed at the sight. The blonde was holding Greg like he was a dear friend, a hopeless look on her face. Greg was pale, unaware, and moaning out in pain. Jumping to his side Xander pushed the blond crew girl away. Ignoring her angry protests.

Without hesitation Xander ripped the piece of long metal out of Owens then jammed his hand into the wrist. Greg let out a long wail his body trying to stretch away from Xander. Though Xander knew his species were healers they could not save someone from pain. Drugs were needed for that. And milithre toxins would interfere with the healing. Submerging himself into the healing Xander learned everything that was Gregory Owenland. At least where it came to his past hurts and faults of his body. Owens had broken the bones in his left hand when he was a small boy, it was so badly damaged he had to go to a milithre healer. The signature of that healer was still faintly there. When he was a teen, maybe sixteen or seventeen, he was stabbed by a short knife. Under the ribs, the bottom rib had a groove in it where the knife passed.

Focusing on the wound that was currently in Xander’s blue healing light, he could feel the torn tissue knitting. The metal poll had punctured a lung and grazed his heart. His chest was filling with blood and with every pump of his heart more blood was lost. Brushing his fingers over the heart Xander forced more power and coated his blue power over the organ. As the gapping wound healed Xander slowly pulled his hand out.

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Fry cursed in her head as she pulled at Owens chair. He wasn’t answering her. Pulling the heavy chair over Fry gasped as she saw the large metal poll sticking out of Owens chest. Reaching out to the man, Fry touched his face gently. “S-sorry.”

She nearly jumped when the man gasped his eyes popping open. “G-get it out of meeeee!” Owens whimpered.

Fry looked at the blond man with wide eyes. She looked at the crowd around her then down at Owens sweaty face. She reached out for the piece of metal only to pulled back as Owens yelped out.

“Don’t touch it! D-don’t you touch that handle!!!” Fry bit her lip. She knew he was talking about what she did. About purging the passengers during the crash.

“Get it out of him!!” Yelled a burly passenger, his hands flailing around in his panic. His dark eyes wide.

“No, no, no, it’s too close to his heart!” Said a thin dark haired woman as she knelt down by Fry.

Fry bit her lip. What could she do? How can she help? “There’s some Anestaphine in the mid-lock in the back of the cabin.” She said as she pointed behind the passengers.

The old man in glasses looked back but didn’t move from where he was standing. “Not anymore there’s not.”

Fry squinched her eyes up. “Get out of here, everyone. Get out--” Fry yelped as someone strong tossed her away from Owens. She frowned as she picked herself up. It was the cat. “What the hell are you doing?!!!”

Everyone gasped when the cat tailed boy ripped the metal handled out of Owens chest then plunged his hand in before he could bleed out. Everyone winced when Owens screamed out in pain. He was as pale as a ghost. The moment the boy’s hand touched the wound it began to glow a bright blue. Light zapping out almost like blue lightening.

“What the HELL is it doing?!” Yelled Zeke as he stepped forward to maybe stop the cat boy.

Imam stepped forward too. “In all my years I have never seen a healing . . . Milithre are so private with their abilities.” He whispered in awe. One of the arab boy’s by Imam’s side pointed at the milithre boy then asked him something in arabic. Imam frowned. “No, I don’t know if the young one can heal and save that poor soul. We can only hope.”

The moment after he was done speaking Owens screamed out and the light coming from Xander brightened. Zeke had enough. “I’m not gonna watch that guy get tortured!”

The free settler jumped forward to pull the slight boy off the bleeding man. He had just got a hand around Xander’s arm when he unexpectedly keeled over in a dead faint. Everyone gasped and Shezza ran forward to check on Zeke. Imam didn’t look surprised. Everyone could see the deadly spike on the boy’s tail. The tip of the white bone spike was covered in blood.

“What did you do to him?!!” Yelled Shezza as she glared at Xander. But he hadn’t moved or speak. He was still with the exception to his tail. The black tail seamed to be standing guard over the cat boy and his patient like a king cobra ready to strike.

Imam and Johns stepped forward to help Shezza roll Zeke’s large body away from Xander. Imam shook him head. “It is not safe to interrupt a milithre when it is healing. In fact it could be life threatening if a milithre feels you are a serious threat to it or the one under healing.”

Johns raised a brow. “Couldn’t tell us this before this guy went charging?”

“I didn’t think anyone was foolish enough.” Said Imam as everyone gathered around Zeke trying to rouse him. Everyone but Fry and the children were gathered around Zeke, who was slowly getting up. “Wha? The hell. My head hurts.”

Imam frowned. “You’re very lucky. Milithre venom can be very deadly.”

The older scrawny white man took his glasses off. “Venom you say? Does this milithre lad attack people with it often?”

Imam shook his head. “No. They are healers and honorable warriors.”

Zeke snorted. “Honorable. Tell my pounding skull.”

Imam frowned at Zeke’s sarcastic tone. “If you had not attacked--”

“Hey! Look at that! The cat guy healed him!!” The scruffy boy called out. He was grinning. But the grin was sweet. Too delicate for a boy. No one really noticed.

Fry was smiling at Owens, he was awake. But he seamed almost drunk. He was tired and couldn’t seam to speak. “You’re ok. You’re ok. You’re ok. . . .” Fry kept saying as she petted Owens damp hair. She was about to order the survivors to help her get Owens somewhere safe when Xander picked him up and walked off.

“Hey where are you going with him?” She frowned.

Xander turned to her. “To put him in a nicely shaded space. He needs rest.”

Fry sniffed. “I’m the captain! I know what’s best for him.”

Xander growled his eyes flashing. “Well, I’m more or less his doctor . . . and the doctor always knows what’s best.”

Xander left the other survivors to there own devices.

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After placing Greg in a shaded less likely to fall apart place, Xander went looking for the other survivors. They were all staring out into the desert like a bunch of goofs. He could hear them talking.

“Is anyone having a hard time breathing?”

“Yeah, I feel a lung short.”

It was a bit hard to breathe. This place was a big hot desert. The air was so dry it made the throat parched. It was fucking hot and the only shade was the ship. Xander really didn’t like his first ship ride.

“There was talk of a scouting party looking for people, but then we saw this.”Said Shezza as she gestured to the path the ship followed. It disappeared into the horizon. Climbing on top of the trashed ship Xander rolled his eyes. He’d just walked into an ass-kiss- . . . um thank you section. For Fry, the pilot.

“–thoroughly grateful. This beast wasn’t made to land like this, but I think you did well. Actually the only reason we’re alive is because of her.” Said Shezza as she patted Fry’s shoulder.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. Thanks very much.” Said Paris.

The kid, Jack, nodded. “Yeah, thanks for saving our dicks.”

Xander rolled his eyes. He didn’t need anyone to save his dick. Especially Fry. He had f-family for that.

“No, really. Thanks awfully.” Murmured Paris.

“Well done.” Smiled Shezza.

Xander rolled his eyes then jumped off the roof and started walking into the desert. He ignored Fry’s yelling for him to come back and Jack’s questioning call. But he did groan at the sound of foot steps following.

His empathy told him there was some people alive out there. He just needed to find them. He could sense pain, panic, guilt, and confusion. And fear. Lots of fear. The fear was coming off everyone, they were all worried about how they would get home. It was a sharp emotion that slithered down Xander’s back. He was just glad for the silver circlet. His spine would probably freeze stiff without it. Panic was an explosion. A bomb going off again and again. It was making Xander wired. Confusion made Xander kind of dizzy and guilt tasted like shit. That’s why he didn’t like being around Fry. She smelled nice, was pretty, but right now her mind tasted like shit. Being around her made him kinda sick. She was lugging a lot of dark shit smelling guilt. It only got stronger when the other survivors were thanking her.

Xander could feel distant emotions. Some survivors faraway. Xander could already feel two or three bleeping out, dead. But there was one pretty close by. It was strong . . . but different from any around. Xander could only classify it as young. Very, very young. Finding the pod that hummed with the young emotion Xander turned it over then brightened. It was Rebecca!! Forcing the pod door open Xander reached out for her, only to pull up short. The girl was cold, not breathing. And Xander’s light wasn’t working on her.

“What are you doing?” Shezza asked softly.

“She’s dead.” Zeke spit on the ground near the pod. “We should bury her.”

Xander frowned. He could sense emotion. A panicked, trapped emotion. Young and confused. Pulling Rebecca’s limp body out of the pod Xander felt her belly. It was still warm. Xander blinked. Strong emotion and movement. Health.

Before Shezza or Zeke could react Xander slit Rebecca’s belly open with his tail spike. “My god! What are you doing?!” Shezza asked as she stepped back. Away from the pool of blood. Zeke looked green as Xander plunged his hands up to the elbows in the corpse.

“You’re disrespecting the dead!”

Finding the source of the emotions Xander pulled the womb out. With a sharp nail Xander cut the thin wall of skin open. Reaching in Xander pulled out a tiny dark-haired babe. He was silent and bloody. Shezza and Zeke both gasped.

“Is it ok?” Shezza reached out for it. Probably some maternal instinct waking up. They both watched as Xander cut and healed the cord then checked the baby’s breathing. Flipping the baby upside down Xander gave him a good swat on the rear. The loud wail of a cry startled them all. Grabbing Rebecca’s bag, Xander pulled out a shirt and started wiping him off. The little guy was a wiggler.

Wrapping him in a blanket Xander looked the little guy over. He was a skinny baby, with a tiny mouth and big eyes. His hair was thick and grew to the side. When his eyes opened a little bit one could see a bit of bright blue.

Shezza was cooing at the baby even though he was asleep. Zeke snorted. “What are you going to do with it . . . er him? We don’t have any milk here! Or water. It will die soon. Should have just left it.”

Both Xander and Shezza glared at him.

“You won’t live long without water either. *blush* Besides. I have the baby milk thing covered.” Xander groaned. He remembered a certain paragraph in the vid. One about milithre care takers a-and w-wet-nurses. ~Milithre are a very useful species. Both male and females can be used as broodmares and/or wet-nurses. Though males can only give birth to one or two small infants. Females can give birth to multiples with less trouble. They also carry more milk.~

Zeke raised a brow at the blush. “Yeah? How?”

“None of your damn business.” Xander walked back to the broken ship, the baby tucked into his arms. Kept safe from the elements.

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Fry was standing by the ship as Xander came back. Her hands were on her hips and frown on her pretty face. “What the hell were you doing? And what is that?!!” Her un-needily loud voice causing the baby to wake up. He cried. Loudly.

Fry looked at Xander wide-eyed as she saw a little hand peek out of the blanket. Instead of answering Xander went past her into the shade of the ship. Laying the squalling infant down by Owens, Xander sighed. He could pick up hungry feelings from the demanding little baby boy.

“Ok. Ok.” Mumbled Xander as he loosened his shirt. *blush* Picking the baby up Xander bit his lip. He wished he payed attention in health class. If there really was a health class? How do woman turn the milk on? Looking from his flat chest to the frowning hungry baby, Xander swallowed and brought him toward his chest. The baby immediately latched onto Xander nipple and sucked. Xander gasped and fought the knee trigger reaction to push the baby away. He could feel something. Like magic his chest filled. Covering the baby up and hiding in the shadows Xander hoped no one would bother him till the kid was done.

“How come I couldn’t have been turned into something badass’d?” Xander kept watch and silently tried to will the infant to drink more quietly like. Xander shifted. The baby was a glutton.
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Placing the sleeping baby down by Owens, Xander brushed his hand through the baby’s silky hair. He sighed. What was he supposed to do with Rebecca’s baby? He didn’t know her last name? Who was her baby’s father? Xander couldn’t remember everything they talked about. But he did remember one thing.

“Hey, Oren. Your momma’s gone but I’ll watch out for you.”

Since the kid was sleeping Xander left him with Owens. Searching out the others Xander stopped. There was Riddick all tussled up like a pig on a stake. Feet cuffed, blind fold on, bit in mouth. Xander didn’t like that. As he started walking passed he heard a soft questioning growl coming from Riddick. It was a pack call. How Xander knew? Who knows! It just felt like that kind of call. Giving a reply, a soft hum, Xander crept closer till his nose brushed across Riddick’s cheek. Flicking his tongue out Xander tasted Riddick’s salty skin.

Stepping back Xander cleared his throat. He didn’t know why he did that. Felt right. Leaving the ship Xander finds the other’s milling about. They were talking about their stuff, finding water soon, and checking the hold. The moment Fry saw Xander she marched over to him.

“Where the hell did that baby come from?”

Zeke scuffed. “He ripped it out of one of the bodies.”
Fry’s eyes widened. “Give it to me! You don’t know how to care for it.”

Xander glared. How did she know what he knew how to do? “I can care for him. Oren’s fine with me.”

“Oren? Well, Oren should be care for right. I know men. You can’t care for kids.” Fry said as she stomped her foot. Her nose was tipped up like a rich girl that new everything. It was annoying. Xander wanted to break her pert perfect nose.

“If you can care for him then how will you feed him?” Xander growled. He could see by the way Fry hesitated in speaking that she didn’t think ahead before speaking. She was a foot and mouth type of girl.

“We’ll find a bottle somewhere later when we find water.” She said simply. “Once we find food and water we’ll worry about feeding the baby.”

Xander watched as most everyone nodded along with Fry. Xander sighed. If he couldn’t make milk he would have thought the same thing. Would have even agreed with Zeke about the baby not having a chance. But with Xander the baby would outlive everyone else here. Imam must have thought so too, because he stepped forward.

“Captain. I believe you have enough on your plate. Milithre are naturally good parents. Even male ones.” Xander was glad the man did mention how naturally good milithre were at parenting.

Fry sighed. “I don’t like it. We all should be watching the baby AND Owens.” She mumbled.

Imam nodded. “My children and I would gladly help Xander.”

Fry nodded but she didn’t look too happy.

Following Fry, Johns, and Paris into the cargo container Xander dug around for anything of use. He didn’t care about property right now, if it could help he would take it.

“The whole bloody containers upside down. It’s all topsy-turvy.” Paris was moving junk around to get to a sarcophagus. Xander was sure it was fake. “Well thank God it’s not a total loss.” Paris opened the thing and pulled out a medium sized bottle of wine. He was practically petting the bottle.

Digging around Xander pulled blankets, cushions, and strong thick polls of wood out of the junk. He would make stretchers for carrying Owens and the baby. Owens was healed but he was weak and any movement could rip the delicate skin back open. Lugging his stuff outside Xander slipped passed Imam and his kids. They were talking to Fry and Johns about finding water. Good luck on that! Xander couldn’t smell any water around.

Two of Imam’s kids were following Xander. Ali and Hassan were whispering, about his tail no less. And wondering what he was doing. Xander rolled his eyes as he turned around. The boys were hiding just around the corner.

“Come one guys. You can help me make the beds for the baby and Owens.” Xander knew they could understand English, in fact Xander was sure they could speak English if they wanted to. It amused them to confuse the other survivors.

Hassan was the first to come over and help. He watched Xander and copied his motions. Xander was tying the stronger fabric to the smooth polls of wood. Ali shuffled over. He stood by and just watched. It seamed he was going to ask Xander questions when the loud sharp cry of the baby sounded from the ship. Ali looked at Xander with big eyes. Xander smiled. “Hey Ali, do me a favor and bring the little noise maker here. I have cloth to change him with.”

Ali carried the baby like he was made of glass, and took tiny steps. Like he was going to trip on a pebble. Xander took Oren from him. “You don’t have to be so nervous with him. He’s tougher then he looks. Survived the crash after-all.”

Oren’s eyes were partially open. His little face scrunched like he was trying to see . . . or poop. He was gurgling and whimpering. Like he was trying to decide between crying and cooing. Sliding his hand through the soft off black hair Xander checked the sort of nappy he had made for the baby. Swiped Paris’ kerchief. Oren was clean.

“Great, are you hungry again?” Xander nearly whined. He could feel his manliness shrink by the second as he looked at the tiny pale face.

The baby whined right back at Xander, his little brow wrinkled.

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Xander smiled at Imam’s kids. Hassan was really interested in healing, he wished to become a doctor one day. He helped Xander with Owens care. Ali and Suleiman just wanted to hang out with the baby. That was ok with Xander. The longer they cooed over Oren the less the baby cried. And could he cry. If everyone wasn’t told about him from Fry or the other two, his wails would.

The others were in an uproar. Riddick had escaped. Not that Xander cared. He wasn’t around right now and Xander was pretty sure Riddick wouldn’t knife him in the back. If Riddick wanted to kill Xander he would face him. Fight it out. And Xander had a good weapon to fight with. The cold steel of his sword felt good on his back. It was hidden under Xander’s cloak and he would use it if he had too. But Xander didn’t think he would need it, at least not on Riddick.

In the cockpit area the others were gathered. Johns claimed they all needed weaponry. Something to use to protect themselves from the killer. Paris entered the cabin carrying a small stack of wooden weapons. Old things. Stuff Xander would have used at one time as a Scooby.

“What the hell are these?” Asked Fry as she hefted a poorly made ceremonial blade. It was big, unbalanced, and poofy. It belonged on a wall not in some persons hand.

“Maratha war picks from northern India. Very rare.” Said Paris with a proud tone.

“And this?” Said Zeke. He was holding the wooden weapon like it was dirty.

Paris fiddled with his stuff as he answered. “That’s a hunting blow-dart pipe from northern Papua New Guinea. That’s very, very rare since the tribe is now extinct.”

Zeke snorted. “Couldn’t hunt shit with these things, would be my guess.”

Xander raised a brow as he took a wooden pike from Paris’ pile. “I doubt you know anything about that, Zeke. History doesn’t look like your strong point.” Zeke flipped Xander the bird.

“W-what’s the point anyway? If the man is gone, he’s gone. Why should he bother us?” Asked Paris as he rung his hands.

Xander opened his mouth to answer when Johns came busting in. “Maybe to take what you got. Maybe to work your nerves. Or maybe just to come back and skull fuck you in your sleep.”

Johns cocked his big gun for flare. Xander rolled his eyes. He was doing that a lot lately.

“He sounds like a charmer. “Shezza stated in a dull tone.

Xander smirked. “He does, doesn’t he.”

Xander skipped out of the room the others staring after him wondering if he was kidding around.

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Taking Oren from Suleiman, Xander walked the baby around with him. He was fussy and tired. Walking seamed to be the only thing that really got the little guy to settle down. Xander walked over to the counter that Shezza and Zeke set up. Xander didn’t really like Zeke but he a Shezza were useful. Shezza and Zeke were building everyone breathers. Shezza was even building a cone type one for the baby.

The black-haired woman looked up from her work as Xander came up. “You should really make a swaddle for him--”

“Oren.”

“Hmm?”

“His name is Oren.” Xander mumbled as he shifted the infant better. “I kinda knew the mother. That was the name she was going to give a boy.”

“Hmm. Guess your lucky Oren wasn’t a girl.” Snap. Snap. Click. “Hear. Try it out.” She handed Xander a breather. Taking a breath Xander nodded. They were good.

“So? What are you going to do with him? Be his mommy?” Shezza held a finger out to the baby who grasped it. “You know Fry wants to take him from you?”

“She could try.”

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Fry looked over at the milithre. He was getting chummy with Shezza. She just knew they were talking about her. About what she was doing wrong. Clearing her throat Caroline called out to Imam who was near by.

“Imam, if we’re looking for water, we should leave soon. Before night-fall, while it’s cooler.” Said Fry ever the leader. It was a good idea to go when it was still light out. The yellow sunlight was dimming.

Imam nodded and called for his boys. Paris puttered over to the group lugging a clunky big bladed spear. “Excuse me. I think you should see this” He looked a Fry to follow him.

Pointing to the horizon behind the ship Paris looked at Fry with worry. Jack was the first to speak. “Three suns! Damn! Fuck!” He kicked the dirt.

Fry glared at Jack. “Don’t curse. *sigh* This will make everything more difficult.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, even Xander.

A blue sun was rising in the sky and the yellow and red ones setting. This was just great. They were all going to get cooked up good. Three suns. Sucky. But at least the Arabs were happy. They believed the blue sun would lead to water. A sign from God. So off they were going to go, follow the blue sun to wherever. Xander wished them luck. He wasn’t going with them, even through he was tempted. After all he could smell Riddick in that direction.

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TBC
Are the arab boys Imam's sons? nephews?