Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly the tv show nor Serenity the movie. Also, do not own any of the Riddick/Pitch Black saga.

Physiological Malfunction

Prologue

River followed her brother Simon down into the noisy canteen. Mal, two steps ahead of them put his two obvious guns into the conveyor weapons lock. Winking at the dirty, grunting guard, he sauntered forth with the knowledge that his two best guns were hidden safely under his jacket. Simon shrugged at the guard, who nodded.

"Core boy, like that, course he ain't got heat." River heard him snicker to his associate.

River dutifully followed Simon down the metal stairwell, scanning the flow of minds and chaos for anything more dangerous than her. Her posture showed all in attendance that she wasn't on edge, but Simon and Mal knew that her mind was ever vigilant.

Her bright and quick eyes were evidence of that.

A small dark, deep whisper caught her attention. It came from the flow, but it wasn't like the others there. It had a rumble to it. A steadiness, with threat of danger lurking beneath it. It was intoxicating. River glanced slowly towards all the tattered booths lining the walls. Most were filled with three or four men and woman laughing, drinking.

Except one.

She met his eyes. His bald head barely shone in the shadows where he sat. It was his eyes, she knew. Those were the windows to his soul. However, she couldn't physically see his eyes, as they were covered by large dark goggles. While staring at his bulging arms and dark clothes, she could feel his thoughts. They were liquid metal. Smooth, solid, but deadly. She felt her heart beat accelerate. Her cheeks felt warm. She turned away from his gaze as she heard his deep and slow chuckle. Her body felt... tingly. She turned to Simon. Grabbing his arm, she tugged. "Simon, I believe my physiology is malfunctioning!" She hastily whispered at him. His attention was directed toward Mal and the twice as large man Mal was facing.

"What did you say to me, hun dun(bastard)?" The burly, muscled man demanded.

Simon, closed his eyes, whispering to himself, "Yes, let's agitate the boulder gate-keeper who could crush us like a pear."

"Simon," River tugged on his loose tan shirt again.

"Not, now mei mei(little sister). We may be keeping our record of never leaving a bar without a fight." He hushed her keeping his sarcastic tone of voice and turning back to the stand-off in front of him.

Her heart picked up as she heard the shadowed animal shift in her mind. He was almost as dangerous as she was and something about that was making her heart pound.

At this point, the ever-building tension could not be contained. "Out with you!" River heard as Mal was knocked to the floor.

Simon grabbed River's hand and bolted for the door. "River, stay away!" He shouted as he closed the entrance. River huffed. She knew, through his thoughts that he had not banished her for her safety, but really for the safety of everyone else. After three years of finally understanding a piece of her vast capabilities, Simon had accepted his ignorance.

She started to kick a can in frustration. She was an asset. She could be used. She could help her family. She was too dangerous for them, sometimes.

Sometimes she wished she wasn't.

1 Year earlier...

Riddick looked out into the swirling bright vortex of colors. The Underverse. Right. Well, here goes.

He felt the pull and push of his nervous system as the necromonger ship passed through space. He popped out the other side, breathing heavily, shocked. This wasn't death. No, Riddick knew the very essence of death, and this wasn't it. This was something else.

He looked out the ship's window. The starts and planets all looked familiar, yet new. He asked the ship's computer where and when he was.

"The next 'Verse," it replied.

Fuck.

A/N: Let me know if you like this so far! Riddick's voice is going to be laced with profanity, and that is not really my area. Do you think I've got their voices down correctly? I'm just checking to see if there is any interest in this kind of story.