The stargate activated, its signature tidal-wave of energy announcing its use. The Atlantis team walked through, John leading them, as usual. Rodney followed close behind, with Teyla and Ronan brining up the rear, the former glancing around curiously and the latter wearing his typical bored expression. The team stood still for a few moments, looking at the large city surrounding them. People were walking everywhere, most with turbans or shawls over their heads. Flags marked nearly every corner, and though there were obvious ships in the air above them, there were no cars, nor any other types of vehicle, in the streets.

John Sheppard tilted his head slightly, his eyes scrutinizing the scene in front of him. "Rodney, what did you say this place was called, again?" he asked his teammate without turning towards him.

"It says here… Ah, yes, we are officially in New Mecca." The scientist answered, a slightly smug expression crossing his face.

"Right," commented John slowly, still studying his surroundings. "And we are supposed to be here because of some serial killer?"

Teyla Ammagen moved to stand beside John, watching the surroundings with a critical, yet still curious, eye. "They seek to know if the criminal still is on this planet, or if he escaped," she said in clarification.

"Yeah, tracking down the serial killer." Said John again, nodding his head in understanding once more. "Because we just love to play detective."

Ronan Dex, still silent and in the back of the group, rolled his eyes. Absently, he took his gun from its holster and began spinning it in his boredom. Sure, things may get exciting once they actually got to track this guy. Apparently he was wanted for some pretty big stuff, and had escaped three Max-security prisons already.

"Excuse me, but are you the Atlantians?" a voice asked from beside John. Turning, the team saw a large, middle aged man looking rather distastefully at them. He had bulk and muscle, and an arrogance that seemed to surround him like a shield. At John's nod, he let out a slightly exaggerated sigh. "Well, apparently you're the best I'm gonna get," he said unenthusiastically.

John looked at the rest of his teammates, then back at their rather rude welcoming party. "Pleasant company already," he said in his usual sarcasm. "So where are we supposed to go?"

The big man turned on his heel. "Follow me; I'll take you to Johns. He's the guy who is looking to make the payday."

The rest of the group followed in suite, sharing knowing glances at their host's remarks. They moved through the city's streets slowly, as the crowd was rather large. Rodney commented that it was a holy city, for Christian and Muslim people alike, and today was one of their holy days. It was nearly twenty minutes later when they were lead into an alley, followed by a door and small room.

As each got accustomed to the inside lighting, they noticed a table with chairs surrounding it as the only piece of furniture in the room. Sitting at the table was a tall, blonde haired man, with strikingly blue eyes, and a large gun slung across his shoulder.

The man, obviously the Johns they had been told they would meet, smiled at the group, though it didn't seem to reach quite to his eyes. "So," he said, his voice relaxed and controlled, "you're the group that wants a try at Riddick."


Richard B. Riddick watched the group closely as they came through the portal. Four in all, one not an obvious threat. The female is strong, and smells of beauty. The taller one is not dressed like the others. He fights. The assessment of the group continued, staring at John. Leader, knows how to use a gun. Johns called them in to help catch me. Am I that much of a threat to you now, Johns? Riddick smirked slightly, though it was hidden by the hooded cape he wore.

He continued watching as a large man, the one he had come to know as a big shot in the secret police of New Mecca, approached them, though he seemed disappointed. Quickly, he started to take them to the room where Riddick knew Johns was staying.

Moving with the crowd and taking his time, Riddick followed the strange group down the streets of New Mecca. His hood covered his face, and even with his size he was able to slip in and around the crowds with the grace and ease of a panther. He watched as the group entered an alley, and into the door he knew Johns was hiding in.


"He is a ghost, one that you will never see coming," Said Johns, reclining in his chair while he sipped on yet another scotch. The rest of the Atlantis team had already sat down, and were trying to get as much information as they could about their next supposed target. However, information on Riddick seemed to come in short supply.

"Can you please give us something other than that?" complained Rodney, sighing in exasperation. "You act as if this guy is superhuman or something. Look, we hunt the Wraith almost every day. I'm pretty sure we can deal with this one criminal."

"He isn't just some criminal," the big man, who they had yet to learn a name for, growled. "The bounty on his head is more than the rest of the top ten men in the galaxy, combined! He has escaped the slam countless times, including max-security prison planets. And," at this he paused for emphasis, "Rumor has it that he encountered the Wraith, and single handedly killed five of them. With his shiv."

The rest of the team exchanged glances, Rodney and Teyla doubtful, Ronan and John eager. They had yet to meet with someone who could fight that well against the wraith, other than Ronan and Teal'c.

"Where was the last time you saw this man, Riddick?" asked John, looking back towards the mercenary once again. Johns stared straight back, his ice-blue eyes level with Sheppard's.

"One week ago was his last killing. Most people think he has moved on, hopped a ship and gone to the next system. But he is still around. I can tell."

"Well, solid evidence is always reassuring," grumbled Rodney sarcastically. The rest of the team ignored him.

"We'll start searching around, see what we can come up with." Said John, rising from his chair and shaking hands with the bounty hunter.

The group turned towards the door, the big man still standing right in the doorway. He didn't say anything, simply stared straight at them for a few moments. Then, without warning, he fell face first to the ground, a piece of sharpened metal protruding from his back. The rest of the group stood in stunned shock as Johns calmly walked over to where the dead man lay.

"Right in the sweet spot," he said, almost under his breath.

Rodney was sputtering, his eyes huge. "B-but how? I never even heard him. Ronan never even heard him! How did he get in and out so quickly?" Teyla's mouth was slightly agape, and John Sheppard looked around the small, windowless room once again, paranoia slowly creeping in. Ronan's face was still neutral, but his eyes gleamed with eagerness.

Johns stood and turned towards them, smiling. "Welcome to the world of Riddick."