Disclaimer: I do not own Riddick, Aliens, Predator or any familiar names of people or places. Not intended to make a profit.
Warning: Violence and foul language.
Author's Note: This is my first crossover fiction and the first one I've posted that isn't completed yet. It may take some time but I assure you future chapters will be posted as soon as they are finished. I don't like to rush anything and tend to write only when the muse takes me. Hope you enjoy and watch for gratuitous one-liners from a smorgasbord of sci-fi classics! I do like to be funny!
Riddick/Aliens/Predator Crossover
Prologue: Another Day in the Underground
PLANET: BG-386 (REGION: UNDISCLOSED)
The darkened tunnels beneath the Weyland-Yutani Research Facility had looked inviting enough when she'd dropped through the access panel. Now, with only intermittent yellow lights to light her way, Ava silently cursed the rash decision she had made to escape through them. Her earbud clicked and hissed angrily in her ear indicating that the reception was poor in the tunnels and her waiting extraction team could no longer communicate with her. "Gonna be a little late, guys." She muttered absently to herself. Disgusted with the irritating sound, Ava reached up and switched off the device. It would do her no good down in the tunnels anyway. From somewhere behind her, Ava could hear angry voices and the stomping of booted feet coming in her direction. Ava grumbled angrily and took off at a steady sprint. Her legs burned and her chest ached to the point of bursting. "This guy better be worth it." She muttered as she made a sliding stop at a T shaped intersection. "Which way?" Ava grumbled as peered down both darkened tunnels. The meager level of light gave her a poor view of either choice, even with the midnight blue of her night vision. A loud clamor came from the tunnel to her left, indicating the presence of Weyland security just as they emerged into her line of view. "Okay, not that way." Ava muttered to herself as she abruptly turned to the right making a blind run down the tunnel.
The ground was wet and slick with sludge, making her footing tricky. The pipes above her that lined the tunnels leaked profusely making an already irritatingly difficult situation that much harder. Ava's foot landed hard in a deep puddle, splashing the dirty water over her thighs. She had no time to worry about the condition of her clothes as she neared what she hoped was the end of her run. A ladder extended toward a sealed door, presumably leading out toward the rear of the facility. Ava clamored up the ladder, desperately twisting at the firmly tightened seal. She grunted with exertion but was unable to get the seal to budge. Behind her the security guards closed in, their booted feet splashing in the mire that lined the tunnel floor. Ava twisted desperately, eventually attempting the use of two hands for added leverage. Loosing her footing on the metal ladder, Ava was suddenly pitched backward onto the saturated floor of the tunnel. Her spine jarred at the impact and Ava was forced to bite back a cry of pain as the sensation crawled up her backbone like a spike of fire. Grunting with pained exertion, Ava stood slowly as what she estimated to be at least a dozen guns cocked behind her. "Get your hands up, scum!" Someone yelled behind her in a gravelly voice that sounded as if he'd suffered a long bout of laryngitis recently.
Her hands rose slowly into the air, indicating she was no longer a threat and willing to comply with their orders. Red lasers played across her back and the back of her hooded head. Above her a quiet clanging on the sealed door made Ava give a playful smirk. She remained completely still, listening intently as one of the security guards approached her slowly, a pair of shackles in one hand and his weapon still trained on her with the other. Ava could feel the cold metal of the shackles as one end closed around her wrist. The guard pulled her arm back behind her prompting Ava to act, spinning around with unbelievable speed and pulling the shackles out of the guard's hand. She swung it briefly above her head, flinging it toward the stunned man's head with such force it drove him backward into his comrades. Ava clamored up the slick wall of the tunnel with the ease of a spider, nestling herself atop the pipes that hung from above. The guards opened fire with their weapons, narrowly missing her with each shot. "Stop firing you idiots! The middle pipe is a gas line! You'll blow us all to hell!" The guard Ava had struck with the shackles yelled as the gunfire stopped immediately. Gas line, really…. Ava noted to herself as she slowly crawled backward suspended by the pipes. There was a sickening groaning sound accompanied by the shifting of the pipeline away from the wall to which it was secured.
The hatch above was pulled away with great force and rain began to pour in from outside. Ava smirked from her precarious perch, preparing to leap to the ladder. Ava lunged herself off of the pipes that suddenly pulled away from the wall, leaning half way and tearing a gouge in the gas line. The smell was immediately evident as the putrid and deadly vapor poured into the enclosed space of the tunnel. Ava grabbed a hold of the rope that dangled above her, ready to pull her away to safety. "Gotta go guys, it's been fun." Ava teased playfully as she drew her pistol from her belt, slowly ascending through the hatch above her and toward the ship that hovered in the air. Aiming carefully, Ava pulled the trigger on her pistol three times, igniting the gas below and hopefully giving Weyland-Yutani something to think about. The flames swept through the tunnel with lightning speed and belched through the hatch, just barely licking at Ava's boots. Ooops…close call. Ava thought to herself as she pulled her feet away from the encroaching flames. The line drew Ava into the belly of the Icharus as the young man standing ready, closed and sealed the door to ready the ship for space travel. "Let's go. I wasn't exactly making friends down there." Ava urged as the pilot, Michael Hooper, activated the thrusters sending them through the atmosphere with only a trail of disturbed atmosphere in their wake.
Caring little for her muddy attire, Ava made her way through the small vessel toward the controls and seated herself in the copilot's seat. Michael glanced over at her, a wide grin on his face. "I think you're in trouble. Bish is on the com and I told him you were blowin' stuff up again." The overly proud look on Michael's face made Ava roll her eyes in feigned disgust. Michael had been a close friend for many years and she actually enjoyed the banter and camaraderie they had with one another. "Patch him through. He won't be as mad when I tell him what I have for him." Ava ended the comment with a chuckle that she quickly swallowed as Bishop's stern face appeared on the screen at the center of the console. His brown hair was swept to one side and his face bore a few age wrinkles that only seemed to accentuate the air of wisdom that seemed to radiate off of him. "Did you get what you were sent in there for?" Bishop inquired, eager to hear the success of failure of the mission. Ava grinned and held up the small metal device that contained all files pertinent to their next target. "That's my girl!" Bishop beamed as Ava inserted the device into a slot beneath the screen. "You getting this?" Ava asked, wondering if the files were downloading accurately and hoping they hadn't been just a smokescreen. "Yeah." Bishop answered. "Lotta information here. Worked for The Company, supposedly killed four hundred and ninety nine men in a week. In and out of slam, possibly psychotic, good with a blade, can pilot anything." Ava smirked as Bishop read the information he had received on his end. "I like him already." She purred, leaning back in the co-pilot's seat and swaying it back in forth with her foot resting on the console. "Good." Bishop responded, his mouth quirking in a rare smile. "You're gonna be the one to pick him up."
The co-pilot's chair stopped it's movements immediately following Bishop's announcement of her next assignment. Ava sighed deeply, she should have expected this. "Fine." She grumbled. "What's the next stop?" Ava folded one of her legs beneath herself and leaned toward the screen. Bishop was engaged in reading the information giving the location of their target. "Michael will be taking you to Emerus Station where you will board the merchant vessel Hunter-Gratzner enroute to the Tangiers System. I've already booked you passage under a false name, your ID's and appropriate paperwork are already aboard the Icharus. Your target, Richard B. Riddick is currently in the custody of William Johns, who is posing as a mercenary." Ava snorted through her nose at the information Bishop provided. This was going to be an interesting mission. "He's not really a merc?" Ava inquired, wondering exactly what she would have to deal with. "No. Johns was a Company soldier until his morphine addiction led to a dishonorable discharge. Somehow he got into the good graces of Weyland-Yutani and was assigned to collect Riddick for their research facility….as a host." Ava felt her stomach churn at the news. They wanted the convict to be a host for a new batch of Xenomorphs, killing him in the process. She didn't care who he was or what he was accused of doing, that was no way for someone to die. Ava had lost enough friends that way and hoped to never see it again. Ava pushed away the disturbing images, clutching her arms tightly around her abdomen. "Okay, so this is a rescue mission. Is there any chance Riddick knows?" Ava inquired, idly fumbling with the handle of the knife she kept in her boot. Bishop shook his head. "No. As far as Riddick knows, he's being transported back to slam. Johns has never indicated he is anything but a merc." Bishop paused briefly, ending the momentary silence that followed with a deep sigh. "Ava, be careful. This guy is dangerous." The concern in his voice was unmistakable. "Who, Riddick?" Ava wondered aloud, given the information she had already been told about the convict. "No." Bishop responded. "Johns."
Emerus Station was as bustling with activity as it was filthy. Piles of garbage littered nearly every corner and crevice, not only marring the appearance of the station but adding a strong putrid odor that threatened to make Ava relive the lunch she'd recently eaten, only backwards. "Gods, this place smells worse than a hive." Ava commented as Michael led her toward the boarding platform for the Hunter-Gratzner. "Okay, that's it, through there. These are your papers and your ID's." Michael stated as he handed her the appropriate information she would need to pass on to the Captain. "Tammy Harmon!" Ava cried out incredulously, nearly falling over in laughter at the name Bishop had chosen for her. "Do I actually look like a fucking Tammy! Bishop is gonna get his when I get back!" Michael forcibly pushed her against the wall, away from the prying eyes of those around them who had been drawn to Ava's burst of laughter. "Cut it out! Just get on that ship, get that guy outta the hands of Weyland scum and come back home….preferably in one piece." Michael rarely raised his voice and almost never yelled at Ava. The sudden sternness he displayed was so unlike him, Ava had no choice but to calm herself. "Sorry." Ava muttered, still trying to stifle the remaining giggles that threatened to erupt from her. Michael led her toward the boarding ramp, the furthest he could possibly go. Slowly, he handed Ava her black duffle, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Do you have anything in here besides weapons?" Michael had noted the heaviness of the duffle as he'd lifted it off the floor of the Meridian. Ava offered him a wry smirk. "Probably some tampons. Why do you need 'em?" Michael only rolled his eyes, pushing Ava toward the boarding platform of the Hunter-Gratzner. "Good luck." He muttered, knowing Ava would certainly hear him even over the din of the station.
They had made it just in time, the large door shut behind Ava as she handed her paperwork and ID's to the Captain. He eyed them specutively, shifting his gaze between the papers and the young woman who stood before him. "Okay, Tammy, step over there and they'll set you up in a cryo unit. I could stow that bag for you, if you'd like." The captain reached for the duffle that Ava clutched tightly in her hand but she pulled away before he had a chance to grab it. She had to stifle the desire to hiss at the man as she hovered protectively between her weapons and the Captain. "I'm good. I'll keep it with me if that's all the same to you." Ava purred with a feigned smile as she abruptly turned her back on him and strode toward the passenger compartment of the massive vessel. The compartment was dimly lit and lined on either side with cryo tubes, some of which were already filled with passengers. Ava took a moment to study her surroundings, familiarizing herself with the layout and the people within. In the distance she heard a male voice with a thick accent speaking in an undoubtedly Muslim tongue as he attempted to coax a young boy into the constricting tube. I don't blame ya, kid. Ava thought to herself as she watched the turban headed boy reluctantly step into the tube and allow a woman with short blonde hair to place a cuff over his arm. Ava hated cryo, never able to fall into the deep slumber normal people enjoyed during long space flights. She had always considered she was too primal, too animalistic. Ava had only had the displeasure a few times, but hated it more and more every time she was forced into a glass tube. Further down, a weasely looking man with a British accent was arguing with someone about his belongings and threatening a law suit should anything be damaged during transport. Ava snorted and rolled her eyes as the man's voice rose in pitch indicating his increasing distress.
Someone brushed roughly passed Ava, nearly knocking her over in his haste. The blonde haired man paused briefly, turning his blue eyed gaze toward her and giving her a look that resembled something like amusement. For a moment, Ava thought he'd intended to apologize, but he only smirked and continued on with his own business. "Asshole." Ava muttered as she slowly made her way further into the passenger hold, still tightly clutching her bag. Passing a large, grey containment unit, Ava glanced through the thick glass and nearly gasped at the sight of the massively built figure inside. She studied him carefully for a moment, letting her eyes travel over his well toned body and hissing inwardly with anger at the restraints and bit that held him at bay. Like he's some kinda animal. That's just fucking sick. It was no stretch of the imagination that this was the man she was looking for, and by the looks of it he was well worth it. Ava was startled from her observation as a bone chilling voice with a southern accent spoke from the opposite side of the containment unit. "Best step back, Miss. He's a dangerous criminal." The man from before with blonde hair and blue eyes leaned casually against the unit. "He doesn't look that dangerous. Besides, he's well restrained, isn't he?" Ava asked, giving the cold looking man her best impression of an innocent young woman. The blonde man chuckled, a sound that sent a shiver down Ava's spine. She took the briefest moment to catch his scent, attempting to not seem too obvious. He smelled of sweat, cheap aftershave and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. Either way, she was desperately starting to dislike this man, something about him unsettled her. "If he get's loose, you'll see just how dangerous he can be." The man said, his drawl more pronounced as he tried to seem…what was that…seductive? Ava had to push back the bile that rose in her throat as the man closed the distance between them and held out his hand. "Name's Johns. You are?" He made the introduction and Ava had to force herself to shake his hand. So this is Weyland's latest bitch! Ava forced a pleasant smile as she shook his hand with a loose, tentative grip. "Tammy Harmon." Ava choked out the name having almost forgotten her false identity. She quickly pulled her hand away, a little afraid that she might get some of his Weyland-Yutani stink all over it. Johns gave Ava what she perceived was meant to be a beguiling smile although it only served to ignite her disgust further. "Nice to meet you Tammy, maybe we could share a drink when we get to our destination. This guy ain't goin' nowhere." Johns used his thumb to indicate the well restrained Riddick and Ava couldn't help but chance a glance in the convict's direction. Ava's dark brown eyes flitted back toward Johns as she offered him her best saucy smile. "Maybe." She stated with a purr in her voice as she abruptly walked passed him toward the first available cryo tube. Yeah, right! Cuz that'll happen! Ava thought to herself as she considered Johns' offer. There was something else that bothered her more than the little bitch Johns attempting to hit on her. As she had turned away she had the distinct feeling Riddick was watching her although he had a blindfold over his eyes. A sound echoed in the back of her mind, something Ava had only thought to be in her imagination: a low, menacing growl.
Ava stowed her bag between the cryo tube that would be her home for the next couple of months, pulling out the shackles she had retained from the security guards and securing her bag to a metal bracket poking out of the wall. Using her foot, Ava pushed the bag as far back as it could possibly go, hoping the darkness of the small space would hide it well enough. The blonde woman from earlier approached Ava and helped her into the tube, placing a cuff around her arm that would feed her nutrients and pump the solution into her that was supposed to keep her asleep. Ava shuttered a little as the glass door of the tube closed in front of her, locking her away from the outside world. Ava took a few deep breaths, steadying herself in the claustrophobia inducing chamber. Closing her eyes, she let herself slip into a deep meditative state, making the passage of time slightly easier to bear. Ava knew she wouldn't sleep, not like normal humans but at least this way she could lock out all around her while remaining aware enough to avoid any possible dangers. She opened her eyes only once, casting her eyes in the direction of her target. Even tucked away in the safety of the tube, Ava could feel the danger and menace radiating off of him. While it should have frightened her, it only served to intrigue Ava. She'd dealt with dangerous things before, and Riddick was not high on her list of worries. Johns, on the other hand, was.
Thus endeth the prologue. Don't worry, action, adventure, mahem and Xenomorphs coming up! Review if you like, I really want to know what people think of this idea. Thanks.