The room was dark for the weakness of the light. More light coming off of River's camera than what was gathered, but smaller and less useful. There were only a few people in the circle of safety. Zeke and Shazza to one side, rigging together harnesses for the safety lighting while a small head kept bobbing into the lens, asking soft questions of the one filming. It flicked to his face for a moment and a young boy smiled before he waved at the people he may never meet. Back to those gathered and now another young face looking and waving at the camera before a very angry blonde scowled and told her to put it away. This wasn't a vacation. The recorder snorted before muttering that it was, and the worst one she'd ever been on. A fairly clean looking man chuckled at that while a large man let out a rumble. It was the last man who actually said anything, agreeing that it was a very terrible vacation indeed. The camera turned to show River looking into the lens.

"Preparing to go into the night. To face the hunger in a capsule of safety and run far far away from it all. Know you put a tracker in her things Daddy. Found it. Hoping you find it too. Got my doubts though. Not in you, but in the preacher man's faulty god. The signal never stops, but will it reach you in time?"

"Miss River," the voice of the little boy came up. A few seconds later his head was laying on her chest and he too was in the shot. "I would kindly ask that you would please write me of your journeys Captain. I have already sworn secrecy to Miss River, and would very much enjoy hearing about the Anglo Sino territory."

River laughed lightly and her lips touched to small turban on the little boy's head.

"Ali is a very smart young man. At least as smart as she is." She gave the little boy a soft look before returning to the viewer. "Smart enough to gain Blue attention, and wise enough to plan ahead and keep secrets." Something went on on the other side of the camera, people were starting to talk and River's face went slightly sour. "Will let you know more when she can. Most follow the words of a stone now. Has nothing on you Wash."

"Was nearly a companion once," River admitted as she double checked the straps on Ali and Jack. Needed to be secure for the exodus into darkness. Imam was going over his own, Zeke and Shazza linked together by more than words right now. Carolyn was carrying her own, as well as the gun she'd demanded from River. Zeke was trusted with Johns' backup; trusted a man at his back more than a woman. Let them. River had the extra ammo and her blades with her. Never liked guns much, but easier to blame someone else for a bullet wound. If the stone pilot lost her gun there would be many a hell waiting for her. Barely a level above the shepherd's special one.

"Bet you're regretting it a bit now," Shazza laughed. "Could be on some luxury cruiser, sipping fine champagne with handsome men at your beck and call."

"So could you," River teased. "Not in her nature though. Would still be here, run away from the confines of silk and the koto lessons. Terrible, terrible koto lessons."

"Like a geisha, isn't it?" Frye asked. "Except you're a whore too." There was a pause in everyone's actions and Imam was displeased to see that another fight was about to break out. Knew the reasoning behind it but his mind wasn't soothed by the knowledge. "Just tellin' the truth. If you weren't a terrorist you'd be-"

"Do not finish that sentence." River's voice was cool and her hands weren't reaching for any weapon just yet. They itched though. The Stone was worth breaking open and letting everyone see the secrets inside. "Want to burn away the little light they have, fine, but be useful about it and leave words until they are safe from snapping jaws." River gave her a faint smile, reading an unease at the sight of it from those around her. All except two. "Would hate to leave a trail for them to follow. Know our blood now."

The two women were still for a moment before River's smile grew just a bit and she went to the door with her pup and the sister who would be soon. Zeke and Shazza were acclimating to the cold and the sound, testing to see how their light would hold up and how close they might come. Close, but not too close. Five feet between them and the gloaming of death and hunger. Just enough to take the edge off until they got home and had a real sit down dinner. Frye was seething behind her, waiting for the right moment to strike and take what she wanted, what she felt she deserved. Hoping that one of the beasts would get brave or she might stumble. Imam's loyalties were wavering. Saw the alliance of scofflaws and the feared that the brotherhood of law and civilization wasn't what it might seem. His mind filled with prayer and the girl left it alone.

"We keep the light going," the pilot spoke up. "That's all we have to do to get through this, just keep burning until we get there."

Those who cared to listen did, more than River imagined. Right now, the only thing that mattered to anyone was getting out alive. Even Jack's hero worship, something River had avoided, was being cast aside in the hope for life, liberty, pursuit of happiness that would never be attained. To be content was all the girl wanted. To live simply as herself and to find the girl hidden beneath everything.

"I'll be running about ten paces ahead," Riddick spoke to Frye, taking over where the weak of spirit faltered. "Want the light on my back, but not in my eyes. Check for cuts too, Robin's right about anything, it's that they can smell the blood running."

Panic, fear, nerves running high but coming from the brother who wasn't. Waved the mist away to check in the waters and found them tinted with blood. Trickling out and mixed with the budding need to do what all animals were hard wired to do. To mate with the biggest and baddest in the verse.

"Tai kong suo you di xing qui dou sai jin wo de pi gu," River muttered quietly. Would be tracking them before they even snuck away. If the shining beacon didn't call them in, let them now something rest just behind the light, then the blood would call. It was always the blood. Ali looked up at her with quiet confusion and Riddick's ears perked slightly at the sound. Not physically, but his mind was turned towards her now and he damn the man and beast both if he hadn't known since they crashed.

Fry was trying to speak quietly, and she was, but not quiet enough for River to stop hearing her. Would never speak quiet enough for that. Wanted to draw the man from the rest, easier for two to make it off the planet than nine. History was written by the winners, the survivors, why shouldn't it be them? Wanted to make a deal with him; didn't know she was late to the table with little to offer. Already had a beauty, didn't he?

"Riddick..." She began slowly, trying to word things just right. "Was thinkin' we should make some kind of deal. Just in case, you know, this actually-"

"Had it with deals," Riddick shook his head. He'd filled his quota for the day. For the week. For the year and years to come.

"But I just wanted to say-"

"Nobody's gonna turn a murderer loose. I fuckin' knew better." Knew better than to listen and let her plant the doubt of freedom in his head. "Been a long time since anyone's trusted me. That's something right there."

"We can, can't we? Trust you?" Frye tried once more. Tried to appeal to the man when it was the Beast she should be seeking out.

"Actually... that's what I been askin' myself."

Didn't make any fucking sense at all. Had a reader out of her damn mind trusting him with a helluva lot more than he was worth, and two soldiers going off of her word. Had Jack's hero worship and that wild thing inside of a kid looking to him for protection. Kids always were a bit more animal than adults were, gave in to the instinct and listened when it called. Course he'd try to protect the kid. Had to. It was River who had him confused. Saw exactly what was in his head, every death including the ones he'd ghosted while out of his fucking head after his first cryo, the ones he'd fought beside and then took out because of what he'd found, even the ones he'd killed just for getting in his way. All that and she still trusted him. Trusted him to get to the skiff even if they lost some folk and to ghost Johns when he got the chance. Wanted his heart on a platter as a gift.

Everyone was hooked up now and waiting on him. River was humming softly as Ali sat on the sled, holding tight and terrified with Jack on the other side of the sled. Zeke and Shazza guarding the rear, the latter with an old school gat they'd pillaged form Paris's things and complaining about a crooked sight. Sniper the tingle told him. Used to most any condition but better weapons as well. Hers was en route to New Mecca, luggage on a different ship than this one thanks to weight distribution. Pissed her off like nothing else to have a shitty gun. If Frye didn't have River's, he was pretty sure it would have been passed over to Shazza.

He'd clear his head up some while he jogged. Always helped to focus on something so he could break it down later. Ten paces later and they were all following along behind him, fear being blown back by the breeze coming towards him. Gave a trail to everything else too. Blood and fear and nerves drew in every predator that was brave enough to follow the light and wait for someone to pick off.

Riddick followed the tracks as long as he could, heard River giving hushes to the boy and whispering soft secrets to him. Brushing away the nerves and the fear of the kid and Jack. Makin' them calm for herself as much as she was doing it for him. Course, someone eventually noticed that he wasn't on the trail anymore. Leave it to the pilot to bring it up, better than Johns though and it wasn't like the folks in the back could even see the tracks after they'd been trampled through.

"Riddick!" Shouting at him too. Must have read into him a lot more than he'd intended. "Where are the sand cat tracks? Why aren't we following them?"

"Saw something I didn't like," He answered easily enough. Saw that hunger River had been going on about. The hunger for blood, sex, and violence, just like any kind of monster.

"Such as..?" Johns trailed off.

"Hard to tell sometimes...even for me," Riddick shrugged. The tingle wasn't amused by the act e needed to give the others. She was tired of running and letting him know the light was going to run out before they go to the skiff if they didn't keep on. He was glad the shadows hid his grin. River smelled damn cute when she was pouting. "Looked like a bunch of those big boys chewin' each other's gonads off to make themselves a family. Thought we'd swing wide, if that's okay by you."

"Let's move," Fry adjusted herself. Her next words were to Jack, almost ignoring Ali. "He'll get us there."

"Never a doubt in her mind," River leaned on her hip.

"If it is all one, I should like to switch," Imam breathed heavily. Older than Zeke, fitter, but his age was catching up and there was something off about his heartbeat.

"Might be best," Zeke nodded. "Shazza, you coming up with me?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "If it's all fine with the captain."

Frye argued for just a second before taking the settlers place. A quick switch around gave all of them a breather and soon enough, Riddick was moving again, fixated on the place he knew they needed to be. Even if he only got three people out of this damn place it would be enough. Things started to go bad though. He saw the light around him dimming before anyone else. Shazza's lamp was dimming, running out of fuel to burn and letting one of the raptors following them get just a bit closer.

"Son of a bitch," she shouted when she realized. Hands were steady, but not quite steady enough when she tripped and that side went dark. Lights hit her quickly as she hurried to refuel but the clicking of the thing tracking them was getting louder. For just a second, the sand shifts and Shazza's being pulled down hill by sand and Riddick can see the creature coming down for them. She's falling into shadow but this time it isn't River who saves the woman. It's her husband. Zeke's thrown himself from the sled and his adrenaline let's him toss her back into the ring of light.

Just in time. Zeke is gone and his screams are ringing in everyone's ears until the woman he saved saves him. One shot with the gun he dropped puts and end to it. Riddick can see the man's head lose it's shapes. Zeke's brain is all over the sand and the raptors while something hard and plastic covers the woman's scent. Her face is drawn as she falls back into the soldier and River is turning into her own stoney face persona.

"Let's get a move on," she said in a voice that wasn't quite her own. Something that made the new widow straighten up and heft the gun while Johns started hefting by himself. "No reason to linger in enemy territory."

~!~

Too much was flying through the air. Would be better to simply run for the skiff and wait until morning but her words would fall on deaf ears and she'd rather not be stuck in a smaller room with the same people. Food, water, drugs, could keep them all occupied or sedated until it was through but the tempers that rose wouldn't let them last. Too many chefs in the kitchen taking up space and pounding their chests. Who would die next? Her money was on Johns. Kept lifting his shotgun, pointing and waving it, craving his drops like they were water. Could only boast for so long and Riddick was waiting to take him out.

"Stay in the light!" Frye shouted. Went without saying but she was trying to keep everything together. "Everybody! Stay in the fucking-"

"We crossed our own tracks," Shazza interrupted her. Voice cold as fire burned inside of her. Turning into Zoe. Was that who Zoe was before? Was Wash pulling her away from the widow she might have been? Never liked to overhear with Zoe, tried hard not to. Would try hard not to listen on Shazza either. Not unless a red flag was waving high above her.

"He's running us around in circles," Johns clarified for the confused pilot. "Look for yourself. Look!"

Didn't need to. Felt the canyon become a lake of burning need. Hunger and sex flying and crawling around like maggots on a corpse. Ignored them all. Ignored the shouts and the accusations to keep her hand in Ali's and speak softly to the child. The think on the outcomes of actions boiling in everyone's minds. Riddick would tell now. Couldn't afford not to. Couldn't risk losing another sled dog even as Imam went to take his old place and pull. Not enough strength and speed in the women and Jack's secret would give another reason to hurry.

"Canyon ahead," Riddick answered in his rumbling voice. The voice that made her spine arch when he spoke. Like chocolate and coffee, rich and earthy on her tongue, bittersweet in her mind. Gave her solace to know he'd try to get her and the kid out if nothing else. "I circled once to buy some time to think."

"Think about what?" Fry asked.

"About how to kill us and still get the cells to the skiff," Johns echoed his own thoughts. "Goddamnit, we're just doin' the heavy lifting for this prick."

"About the girl," Riddick answered. River felt eyes on her from all directions and suspicion warring with knowing and desire.

"What about her?" Frye asked. Didn't want to think on tiny girls and the lust they might incite. Too fragile for things Stone could endure.

"What it's gonna be like when we hit that canyon with her bleedin'."

Eyes were on her again, looking at white cotton and exposed skin for bloodstains.

"What are you jaw-jackin' about?" Johns asked. "Girl's not cut."

"Wasn't talking about her," River answered for the Beast. A delicate hand raised and pointed to Jack, revealing the truth of things known to see the light of the moon. "Was talking about her. Blood moon brings more than just the hunger." It took a minute for them to realize and the shock of it physically shook the Stone in her setting.

"I didn't want you to leave me there." Jack's words were shaking, watery and swaying as hormones overcame and brought on fresh feelings. "I didn't want to stay at the ship, that's why I didn't say anything."

"And you?" Johns asked as Shazza and Caroline tried to console the girl who was. "Why didn't you say anything? Couldn't give us a heads up?"

"Easier to travel as a boy than as a girl," River shrugged. "Took her on, knowing what she was. I haven't been with her long enough to predict her menstruation cycles. Not my type."

"This can't be happening to me..." The merc was scrubbing his face with his hands while Imam took the rest for all it was worth. Wouldn't have to pull much longer. Wouldn't have the light to do so.

"They been nose-open for her ever since we left." Riddick gave tot he rest of them. "Told ya they go off blood back at the ship."

"Then we will keep her close," Imam decided for them all. "She'll be safe if we put her here, between-"

"There is no safe," River sang. "No home base to touch to keep time from flowing. Eats away at our fuel until nothing but cinder and bone remains for the corpse to keep. Will be dust in the wind while they fight over who we were. Love the brain pan, tastiest morsels simmering inside, just waiting to be shared."

The breeze grew up, turned into a wind and hit them with a wave of hunger and stirred up the sorrow and fury until River let it was wash over her to escape it all. Made them nervous, her words working at their nerves while the wind blew them about in their brains. Even the Beast was wondering if she was alright; had she gone wooly without his notice or was she trying to make them nervous?

"It's not gonna work," Frye finally spoke. "We gotta go back."

The devil brayed like an ass into the night. Big gauge was slung over his shoulder as the lack of drops, the pressure of being a good man, and the weight of being prey finally started to crack at his careful mask of law and justice. The Beast was just waiting, for her, for all of them, of that she couldn't know, not until he knew why he waited.

"Hey, You're the one who got me out here, turned me into a goddamn sled dog," Johns pointed to the pilot. Always thinking he was more than what he was. Dogs had loyalty and kindness with a mind for the pack; the devil was selfish and always would be. "An' now you 'spect me to go back like a whipped dog?"

"I was wrong. I admit it. My bad, okay?" Frye bit out. "Now let's just go back to the ship."

She tried not to make her eye contact with the others obvious. They would continue or they would die. Her tribe was larger and at a higher risk, but they were better at following orders and had more fighters.

"Your bad?" River asked. She could not keep the amusement and shock from her voice. Could not keep the impatience from her being as the pilot that would be queen gave her a dismissing look and her resolve tried to push itself up. "Your bad how exactly? Do you think you're so gorram important that you can simply dictate the will of everyone around you?"

"You sure you aren't a schizo?" Fry shot back. "Might be why they didn't take at the wore's guild? We need-"

"Drop the act," River scowled at her. Knew now what the beast had been waiting for. Waiting for everything to come to a head and for the argument to end now. "Doesn't care if she has the Parliament in front of her, cares nothing for life, especially not those around her. Only cares for them so far as they can take her. We keep going so the fallen will not have done so in vain."

"Miss Fey, she's the captain," Imam tried to break into the fight again. Knew it was futile as he did so.

"Hardly. Docking pilot. Do you not remember she took our tickets?" River gave the man a look. "I remember much more than that. I was awake during that crash and I heard her drop the load."

Minds were clicking in place, trying to move forward until Jack asked the million dollar question.

"During the crash, as your Sarah and the captain died, choking on their own blood-"

"What good does that do?" Fry asked, mind whirling and her own oily monster coming up to fight.

"Heard Owens tell her to stop. That she was responsible for every life on board, but it didn't stop her." River pressed on past Frye's protests. "Dropped five hundred passengers before Owens could block the door. Boom, down into the earth, burning away and furious that she couldn't drop us to save her own skin. She has us doing the heavy lifting, disposable once the skiff is read for her."

"Would you rag your whore mouth!" Fry lunged at her. Easy to dodge, all rage and fear, no direction, no thought beyond tackling her to the ground and ripping her eyes out. Didn't need eyes to see. Needed hardly a touch to disarm the woman and boot her aside. River offered her pistol to Shazza before slipping it back where it belonged. She bent slightly, locking eyes with Frye as she spoke the truth.

"We're not alive because of her. We're alive in spite of her." River laughed lightly and shaken nerves wound up again. "Stone hearts may stay if they wish, but we are going forward."

Just like that, they were moving forward again. Shazza and Jack were pulling the sled with Johns while Imam offered confession to Stone. Stones didn't speak. They acted as stones act. Slower now, preparing to run through the hunger in the canyon and needing everyone to stick as close as they could. Needed to build up their strength for what was to come. Needed to build their courage once the weak had fallen away. Was starting now, the Beast and the Devil about to dance in the night.

~!~

Riddick didn't want anything to do with female head games ever again. Knew it was impossible, but if he could help it at all, he was going to stay very far from the fairer sex. Course, that meant dodging Beautiful and seeing to his own needs. Strange thing, putting her at the top of things he'd miss. Probably be able to pick up any head games early on, but the thought of her doing it to him...was actually a ridiculous one. She had her things, honest about what she wanted and pleasant enough most times. Only when someone had it out for her did she strike back. He could relate to that.

Johns was coming closer. Twitching and shaking to anyone's eye and smelling slicker than usual.

"Ain't all of us gonna make it," He spoke up from Riddick's side.

"Just realized that, huh?" What the fuck was he thinkin' on now? The raptors were clicking nearby, not close enough to be a threat, just within hearing range. He could see them if he looked, feeding with less fervor than when they'd had Zeke in front of them. Johns fired a shot at them and Riddick's ears rang from it. If he didn't have brain damage by the end of this trip he'd be shocked. Had him thinkin' on the concussion Beautiful was still swaying from; She was just waiting for Johns to stop moving.

"Seven of us left," Johns started again. "If we could get through the canyon and lose just one, that'd be quite the fucking feat, huh?" He gave Riddick a sideways look and looked every bit the devil Riddick had first called him. "A good thing, right?"

"Not if I'm the one," Riddick answered. No tingle this time, just enough to tell him that she was staying out of it; he wasn't complaining.

"What if you're one of five?"

Riddick stared at him. The goggles hid just enough of his eyes to keep the shock from showing and Johns' vision was blurred enough that he missed Riddick's eyebrows raising at it. Mistook it for interest.

"I'm listening."

"What are they doing up there?" Jack asked.

"Talkin' bout the canyon I s'pose," Shazza answered her. "Figuring out how to get us through."

River was coming over, Ali's hand tight on hers. There was a look on her face, like Sarge's and a million other men and women who knew something was about to happen. It was the look that told a body they had to do something they weren't going to like. Nothing could be worse than what she'd already done.

"Look, it's hellified stuff, but not much different than those battlefield doctors when they decide who lives or dies," Johns explained. "It's called 'triage', somethin' the soldier and Tam will understand, okay?"

"Kept calling it murder when I did it," Riddick pointed out.

"Either way, figure it's something you can grab onto."

"Sacrifice play," Riddick said the words out loud. The thing Johns was trying hard as hell not to say; wouldn't daddy be proud now? "Hack up one body, leave it at the start of the canyon. Like a bucket of chum."

"Trawl with it," Johns emphasized. "There's a cable on the sled. We can drag the body behind us."

"Nice embellishment." The man was too far gone to pick up on sarcasm at this point.

"Don't wanna feed these landsharks," he shook his head. River might have a trace of madness, but Johns had a whole rope of it wrapping around him. "Just keep 'em off our scent."

"So which one caught your eyes?" He had to look and see if River was at least sharing everything. Looking after her own, like usual, soft words to Jack and Shazza as she adjusted their units to cycle off of smaller battery packs. Ali's lights were hooked up to her own instead of the sled and there was something she hadn't told him just yet.

"Don' look, Don' look, Don' look, Don' look," Johns hissed, grabbing his arm. All kinds of liberties being taken with his body these days, huh?

"Must follow them, hold them to gunpoint if needs be. Not enough to pull the sled and keep the light," River whispered to the two older women. "Imam will have little choice, connected to Stone and words."

"Not happy about going a bit dimmer," Shazza shifted to check the ease she could fire with. "Or the headlight."

"Better than nothing," River smiled faintly. "Could go brighter if Jack linked to her, but it is safer for her to go with the others. More light to keep the blood at bay."

"Not gorram happy about this." Jack dodged the half hearted swipe from the older woman. New curses were always fun for dark times. "Gonna do it though, but only 'cause you and Riddick cooked something up."

"Go, tell them you must recharge." River shooed the younger girl along. "Will believe it and Fry will be glad to share with the new flock. We will follow shortly, and hook up to the packs on the sled."

Jack trudged over, not happy at all, and Shazza was prepared to run. Australian shepherd to the wayward sheep while pups ran about in wooly coats. Disguising themselves to the ewe and the billy until the time was right. Hoped Jack would not suffer through their stupidity. Imam was listening to Frye still, trying to boost her spirits as the pilot asked him to slow down. Needn't have.

"Figure we can use the girl, maybe the boy too, makes Tam all docile and gets the others listening, you know?"

"What're their names, anyway?" Riddick asked.

"What do you care?" Johns asked.

"I don't," Riddick shrugged. Long as he had something to call them it was fine.

"Than let's not name the Thanksgiving dinner, okay?" Johns was stressing his words again. Getting real desperate. "I'm going to guess you got some kind of shiv. Can't see you just going unarmed after giving up Tam's switchblade."

"You expect me to do it?" Riddick did let his surprise through. Really was going through withdrawal if he was trying to get Riddick to do the one thing every merc knew he wouldn't. Killing kids was one of the things most mercs wouldn't even do. Not Johns though. Devil didn't give a shit on who lived and who died.

"What's one more to you?" Johns snorted. "Like they're going to be the ones who send you to hell?"

"Oh, you're a piece of art Johns," Riddick chuckled. "Ought-ta hang you in a museum somewhere." Riddick looked him in the eyes and Saw the rest of the party slower and preparing to dash. Jack was hooked to the others, safer with them and the women...had an idea. "Actually, forget the museum. They should just hang you."

"Alright," Johns nodded. He rubbed his palms on his pants and shook his shoulders out like it would get rid of everything. "You do the boy first, smaller. I'll keep the others off your back while you get the girl." He noticed Riddick stopping and turned to him. When he still didn't move, Johns's face pinched. "Aw, don't' tell me you're growin' scruples."

"Nah," Riddick shook his head. "Just wonderin' if we don't need a bigger piece of chum."

"Like who? Mr. Crislam? The widow?"

Riddick gave him a look and Johns had a half second before he got it.

River watched the fight erupt and locked eyes with Shazza. It was now she would need to run. Dimmer than before but just safe enough to bring them back. Needed everyone to get free. River held tight to Ali as Frye pushed and pulled at those connected to her. Took the torches and the hand-lights and Jack as she bolted and Shazza took after them. Just paces behind as she went; needed to give those boys enough time to finish it and Frye enough time to wear herself out. Just crazed enough to rush a woman with a gun. Had to stay in the light. Fry was faster than anticipated and the fight longer, Shazza would need to run quicker to stop them long enough for the Beast to help her herd them home.

Ali held tighter to her in the night and River pulled her gun loose. Their light was dimming as it adjusted to the power cells. Break down in communication left them with four instead of the three they needed to fly away. Had three more minutes before they would shine again. Brighter than before and a beacon to all who wandered. She was the shining beacon of civilization and it made her laugh just enough.

"Miss River?" Ali asked softly. Memories of hiding with his mother in the basement and knowing that the steel on his head was a mercy when the soldiers burst through the door.

"Don't look," River put her lips to his turban again. It was going askew and when she tried to fix it, it fell yet further. "Apologies."

"I'm scared," he pushed his face further into her neck.

"I know. It's okay to be scared sometimes. Healthy." The light was dimming even more and Ali could feel it in the air around them. "Don't look."

Impressive. The way a human mind could work sometimes. Always interesting to see who kept their mind and who went primal. Fight, fly, or freeze; Fry was a flyer. Imam a fighter when he needed to be. Shazza was the frozen one right now, but not out of fear. Nah, she'd stonewalled the runners with Johns' other gun aimed at Frye's head. Knew he was coming round too, saw him, heard him, didn't matter. Part of being a unit he guessed.

"Heading back to the ship, huh?" Riddick's words sent more fear into the air than the rifle at the heads did.

"Get out of our way," Fry demanded. She was shaking, watching her world crumble around her and trying to figure out how to save her pride and her ass.

"So everybody huddle together until the lights burn out?" He asked. "Until you can't see what's eating you? That's the big plan? Notice anything missing?" Riddick asked. "Anyone?"

He didn't give them time to answer. Johns's shotgun was on Riddick's shoulder now, hanging behind him until he actually needed it, but enough of a statement to make them turn around like Shazza had tried to get them to do. The woman was only partly annoyed from her scent, wasn't willing to shoot anyone when they needed to get the hell out of Dodge. Course, River and the boy were faint, almost too faint for even his eyes out in the dark. A gleam that could have been anything on the sand before Riddick's eyes watered when her light flared. Letting the whole damn planet know exactly where she was. He'd need his goggles just to get back to her at this rate.

Shazza wasn't at the back of the train this time, but running next to Fry with her eyes fixed on the woman as much as they were on the darkness. Jack and Imam were keeping close to the other two women, the former hooking herself back up to the older woman and causing the both of them to shine brighter. Nothing was so bright as River though. Nothing could be as bright as that girl. Genius the tingle whispered. The closer they got, the more her light dimmed, saw her adjusting it when they finally got close enough, making it just bright enough to give them a bit more space and push Riddick just a bit further up in front of them. At that distance, with the light as his back, it let him see a bit more. More light bouncing off of what was in the dark and back into his head.

"Kept a light burning for you," River hummed. She slid her pistol back and Ali lifted his head with relief on his face. Didn't take much to figure why she'd had it resting on the kids back. "Quickly, before she burns away. A damn of sticks cannot hold a river forever."

"The fuses will burn out quite soon," Ali nodded. "Perhaps in the next hour, if we are quite lucky. They seemed quite old when we went over them earlier, so it is best to guess for twenty-five minutes, so we are not disappointed."

Clever kid. Riddick grabbed hold of the sled's reins and began pulling. Worse now than the first time, but he was pulling more than twice the weight. When he got to the canyon rim though, they all paused. They couldn't make ti through in fifteen minutes. No fucking way. Not with the raptors down there, some only part way out of the earth before they were fed upon by those waiting.

"Must carry on," River's voice echoed clear. "The Beast will take three cells, Jack stays in the middle and we will drag the fourth together until there is respite."

"Can't make it," Riddick argued. "You see any place to hide down there?"

"Must do what they can. Survive on the cell until they burn away, abandon it and rely on the spirits until we can fly." Dead set on going for it, wasn't she.

"And Ali?" He asked. Kid couldn't run as fast as everyone else, she had to know that.

"Will stay with her if he cannot manage the weight on his back."

Dead set on someone getting off the rock. Ali was silent behind her and waiting for Imam to finish apologizing. The holy man knew who the kid would go with once this was done, just finishing things up and making sure he was certain of his choice. Frye was coming over though, Shazza still watching her with a half eye as she continued patrol duty. Comfort in routine.

"What are we doing?" the blonde asked. Assumed she was blonde anyhow. Light colors were all the same to him. Different shades on pink. Except River, she turned blue in his eyes when they started having fun. Something interesting to think on later.

"Taking the cells and the kid," Riddick told her. River was acknowledged and ignored at the same time. Estrogen floating all through the air as they kept on with their silent competition. "You guys are behind me, keeping Jack in the center while you all keep on with the lantern cell."

"We're here to carry your light, aren't we?" she asked him. She was looking at him hard, with a closed mouth and trying to see if anything she thought she'd grabbed hold of before was still there now. Took her a good second to realize it had never been there. "Just the torch bearers."

"Never understood team work," River hummed as she handed Riddick a protein biscuit. Just a little chunk of one of the big bars. The kind that could last a family for a month. "Have enough in her pack to keep them going for at least so long. More if they don't like their kids very much."

He couldn't help the grin that spread across his lips as he chewed. So matter of fact and light hearted that it just brought his laughter out. Had a way of doing that he wasn't quite sure on just yet. Blue afterglow, helping him hunt, making him laugh when he didn't feel like it. Something strange about her. Frye only gave the girl another look, tying to figure out what bonded them apart from being criminals. Wasn't much of anything really, except trust. That was something mighty big. The trust she'd given him. The way she kept on watching his back and faith he'd get hers in return.

"Why?" Frye was asking. She was insulted, he could smell it on her. Wanted to know why he wasn't just letting the kid keep riding the sled. Why was he taking River's kid piggybacking while they all had to run behind him as targets.

"Can't run as fast as everyone else," Riddick answered. "Need to run through this thing. Blazing for all we're worth."

"Suspects he has a thing for polished girls with sharp things."

The stone had rolled away while the Beast and the beauty went about their tasks. Kept on calling her as such, hard not to see herself through the filter that was his mind. Even as she worked to lash the cells together and Riddick rigged himself a new harness for the cells and the kid to hold on to. Lot of weight to handle. Ali was working beside his new momma, fixing his little string of lights to give them just enough safety without burning out too soon or ruining Riddick's sight. Thought on her as the new momma, but wouldn't say so until she agreed. Never had to think on it before.

"She's not my kind of crazy," Riddick agreed. "Difference between not caring and apathy."

"Would it not have been better to crash fully, and all go down together if no other option could be found?" Ali asked. "It would be more merciful to all."

"Technically," Riddick shrugged. River wasn't answering the question, her hands had paused when the overwhelming flicker of thoughts came her way. All of them on the same idea. Knew she ws the new mother, but too many brought in the father. Did not need a mate to rear the pup, but it kept flickering in and out of minds. "Best not to need to. Don't care for a ship where the crew goes into cryo."

Imam was coming over to them. His mind was the strongest of them. Matched the tone of skin and dark curls together to see a family on a camping trip.

"Just keep walkin' preacher man," she told him before he could begin his blessings.

"What're you doing?" Riddick asked instead. Had a suspicion but nothing concrete, nothing he wanted to think on either. Echoed in his mind as much as everyone else's.

"Blessing you like the others." Between River's words and Riddick's look he found only Ali willing to sit through it. "It is painless."

"And pointless," Riddick snorted.

"I see," he spoke moments later. Needed some kind of steady beat in his world, but he was dancing to a crooked tune. "Well, even if you don't believe in God, it does't mean he won't be-"

"You don't see." Riddick interrupted. He shrugged his harness on and tested out what River had done as he kept speaking. "Cuz you don't spend half of your life in lock-down with a horse bit in your mouth and not believe. And you surely don't start out in a liquor store trash bin with an umbilical cord wrapped around your neck and not believe." The beast's mind had gone bitter and jagged. Too soon to try to brush it away. He need it like air. "Oh, I absolutely believe in God. And I absolutely hate the fucker."

Imam wondered if they weren't perfect for Ali. The boy who doubted.

"Miss Tam?" Wanted to know when she'd lost her faith.

"Fourteen," she answered softly. "Details unfit for little ears and the spirits must be raised as they journey into darkness. God has no business with me. If he is with her, watching, then that is all he does."

"Perhaps," Imam began. "Perhaps a hope then? A wish, from myself to you, to put positive thoughts into the air."

Wasn't letting go, but his words were true. Positive thoughts into the air and surety for himself that Ali would be happy and cared for by a set. Two were better than one. Sought to wed them with words and leave the documents out of it. Let the Beast know. Needed to keep him aware of the world and of things he couldn't know by his own readings. River helped Ali adjust and Riddick let out a sigh.

"Make it quick," he grumbled. "Burning light."

They would be dead nearly three quarters of the way through. Then they would need to go at a hard burn. Imam's words washed over them, heavier than she'd thought as the Beasts' mind wondered and turned over in his mind what was happening. Shotgun wedding by an unarmed priest. Crazy woman for a partner. Kid on his back and glowing like a little firefly. Was trying not to laugh again.

"All set," She petted the beast on the shoulder. Thought to kiss him, best left until fewer eyes were on them. "Listen, and watch carefully. She will be just up ahead."

He rose, bouncing and ready to move. The weight would not throw him overly much and Ali could hook the cells up much faster than Riddick could; the three of them knew this. The holy man was finished now and his mind was radiant with joy. Would catch on to the others, to Jack and to Shazza, even to Frye. River gave Ali a small smile and kissed his hand before joining the others at the lamp. She would be keeping watch while Fry and Imam pulled the single cell and Jack ran with them.

Didn't let the fear in. Kept it far away until they would be safe and sound. Ali was lighter than anticipated; made the beast worry before shaking it from his head and running along behind them. Only barely behind them, goggles on as they dashed through. Hunger above, screaming for their impudence and the brass they used to run through their gatherings. Return later, look through, see if the research center was here or someplace else. Return when the hunger was satiated and the suns high above. Or not at all. Preferred to not visit at all.

"Don't look," Riddick's voice sounded as the whisper of life began to drip around them. Watering soil that would never grow. Little fluttering things coming at them and fluttering away with in pain and rage. "Do Not look up," he growled again, louder and keeping Ali's mind focused.

Stone proved it was very bad at listening. Looked up and saw the hunger. Stumbled and would have cried out had the rest not continued on. Had the Beast not roared and the family urged her from all around. Patrol duty, keeping them safe enough until they truly needed to run or hide. Run or hide. Prayer and mantra come from all mouths, in all languages as they ran until Shazza spotted what lay ahead.

"Riddick!" Shazza called back to him. Didn't slow down like the others, had been through worse on Nawleans. The girl had done worse whenever Reavers and Raiders thought to take a bite.

"What?" Fry asked. Then she saw it. "Riddick? What is that?"

"I't s fucking staircase!" He shouted. "Go over it!"

Jack grabbed hold of the strap hanging loose in the woman's fingertips and began dragging with Imam.

"Go over it!" River pushed her forward.

Not unkindly, but enough to remind her. Enough to get her going again. Faulty engine and poor fuel for the stone pilot. Never slow down, never stop moving. Clicking raptors shied away so long as there was light but they knew it could not last forever. Hiding until the could snap and take until One did. Hid from her, hid his hungry in the death, clever and snapping at Jack until steel flashed and it breathed no more. The offering was not enough for gravity. The girl who wasn't tumbled down the collection to the floor beneath and Ali was standing in the light with them, terror coming out of his pores as the Beast slid down to save the girl.

"Come," River pulled him closer. The lantern was dimming yet more and Jack's light dimmer still. An omen or chemistry? The girl focused her handlight on the creature, causing it to shriek and scream as Shazza followed suit. Couldn't fire without risking the girl's life, could only wait for her to free herself or the beast to hunt.

A wondrous thing to watch him defend the makeshift family. Grace of his own, sharp and precise as he slid under and peeled the stomach of the raptor open with his blade. Thankful to have a real one with which to slice and spill. The little things. Jack was hurrying back to the light, plugging into the lantern cell and dimming them just a bit more than they had been.

"Didn't know who he was fuckin' with," Riddick scowled at the raptor. Adrenaline and a chance to destroy one of the things that dared hunt him in his own realm.

"She," River corrected as he returned to them. Could feel a numb sensation coming off of the other minds. "Mostly. Prefers females as they are the most like it was." She smiled at him. "Fights between women can be dangerous."

"No shit," he shook his head. "Ali!"

The boy hurried back over and climbed on and Riddick picked the cells up once more. Never stop moving. To stop would mean to accept defeat, to accept death and loss, couldn't do that now. They would break and crumble and live on on the twisted minds of the bioraptors. Could feel bits of Zeke floating above her, trying to find what it wanted, what in craved from the others. Wouldn't find it. Not so long as they ran and Shazza hid in sight.

Thought it was sweat for a moment, the tears of her own form spilling as she ran, until another hit, then another and yet more still.

"Oh no," Frye whispered, slowing down despite everyone continuing on. The flicker of hope that she might die was a petty one and River ignored it in favor of continuing on. Couldn't though. Imam was slowing down too.

"Rain," he breathed.

"Sing in the rain," River pushed the blonde yet again. "Singing and dancing, doesn't matter what they do so long as they keep moving!"

Did matter though. Couldn't light the rest of the way if the heavens sought to keep her light unlit. God didn't just watch it seemed. He punished unjustly, cruel intentions raining down upon them.

"Zhu ah," Shazza took the strap from Frye's hands. "Ni ming ming zhi dao wo shi bang ni zuo shi, you he biz zhao wo ma fan ne?"

"Mo min chi meow," River countered. "Holy man says he just watches."

"Where's your god now, huh?" Riddick called from the back. "I'll tell you where! He's up there Pissing on Me!"

"And apparently pisses on people," Shazza joked.

Brightness in mind and soul, flickering for moments and trying to catch fire as they sloughed through the quickening sand that pooled around them. Couldn't though. Not all of them. Jack's reproductive system was giving her troubles and Imam's breath was struggling to come back to him. Slowed to a stop and rested, the Beast setting his cargo down and shifting to the head of the group. Self assigned position as leader of the merry jaunt.

"Explains the lack of flowers," River nodded to bring the fire just a bit brighter. "Pissed on once every two decades by a drunkard? Golden showers do not bring golden flowers."

Worked, brought on memories of happier times when she sloughed through mud and blood. Old stories and laughs. War Stories. The need to get to Sarge because if anyone could make things right, it would be him. Daddy to many, just didn't know it.

"Must give you my camera once we get to New Mecca," River hummed. Kept a close eye on Ali by her feet. Building again, focusing on what was only theory, for theory could change and adapt. "Do not feel like facing Daddy and ge-ge at once."

Shazza laughed and took a knee on the ground. Checked her gear over and focused on that idea. On seeing Zoe again and on Daddy, meeting the crew and wondering if they needed a cook until she gathered the courage to go see her father. River turned away from it, keeping a half ear on her to kick up sparks of joy and light. Needed it to get through. Ali was fine beside the woman, well lit and protected, Jack curled on the ground as pain sparked through her. River paused beside her for a moment, crouching and pulling something from her bag for the girl.

"Take two," River told her as she pulled the bottle out. Pain killers, muscle relaxers, things that only altered the River's flow somewhat. Opened up little gates to the fore bay instead of letting the damn break. "Have plenty of water now."

"Riddick? How close?" Frye's voice went across the air. Didn't matter how close or how far.

The Beast didn't answer. Could see the dim light of the skiff against the settlement. Could see things crawling about before leaving as quickly as they came. Hurt to see what they were and what they'd done to their own. Hurt them and drew a fury from what remained of their minds and the hunger to become again. Looked to her dark hair companions and nodded.

"Tell me the settlement is right there!" Frye tried again. "Riddick please!"

"Can't make it," River answered instead. The cell lantern was dying quicker now, had done well, but not well enough. "Not enough light. Must hide away someplace until the heavens cease to weep."

The Beast was not so straightforward and focused as to ignore a possible hideaway she realized. Barely behind them, just a few paces behind, he'd seen a crevice. A cave just big enough for them to wait it out. To be calm and safe. Didn't know if he would stay with them though. Couldn't help him make his choice either. His to life to take or give as he saw fit. Enough room.

Imam set about to lighting a liquor torch as soon as he could. The lantern lit enough and not enough at all and the holy man was in need of something true. Saw now the reasons ancestors worshipped the sun and the stars and the moon above them. The Beast came in just far enough to be covered by the light.

"What's got you giggling?" he asked. Doubt in her sanity yet again and the admission that he should stop wondering.

"Cavemen," she answered simply. "What else?"

He looked around and shook his head with that vague grin again. The kind that didn't tell you what was going to happen next. Except she did. He was seeing her half lit in a cave, dripping wet as white cotton clung to her skin and teased him without meaning to. Was happy to be a caveman now. Could sit in the back, keep the lights burning until the rain stopped or the sun rose.

"Think you can hook another string of lights to that cell?" he asked.

"Need to let it dry first. Don't know how it melted or what was damaged." It had been pulled from the cell already, filling the cave with an acrid scent and allowing the golden glow of fire to them all. Warmer to match the thoughts, calming to weary souls. The Beast was standing closer to her now, watching her and waiting. "Mustn't be wicked. Need to rest and allow for nature to take course."

"Pretty damn natural from where I'm standing."

"Not a caveman," she rolled her eyes. "Will not fornicate in front of children" she lifted a finger to cut his next thoughts off "Nor will she partake in fellatio without privacy. Not fit for eyes to see."

"Ruining my vacation," he chuckled. Ali was coming over to the with a torch and a roll of duct tape. "So thats what kept poking me."

"It looked useful," Ali nodded. Not apologizing at all as he handed the torch to River and attempted to pull some of the tape loose. "My father would tape torches to the walls when the power left us. I believe it gave him something to do, and now, I will follow in his steps."

"Not too far I hope," Riddick took the torch from River and held it against the wall. "Go see how Jack's doin, see if those pills kicked in yet."

She did so. Not the only one injured and ailing, though far less now than she had been. Drugged up and perfectly happy with sitting in the dirt against a dry rock wall. Shazza had been cut and Imam had a gash in his arm, keeping silent to keep from being left behind and run on towards safety. Time to play at doctor and ensure they were safe. Pulled her bag open in front of the solider and gestured for her leg to come forward. The pant slid up and the cut was worse than either had expected. Deep and staining pale skin crimson. Cleaned it first, cleaned and bentadine smeared atop before a length of bandage was cut and pressed atop.

"Bloody hell," Shazza breathed out a few seconds later. "What the hell is that?"

"Topical painkiller applied to the bandage before being packaged. Used by Alliance soldiers, lifted it from a salvage job. More claimed from the settlement." River cleaned the rest of her skin up before waving Imam over. "Waterproof, should seal the injury until appropriate treatment can be procured."

"We have got to get some of these," Shazza shifted to let Imam sit beside her. He'd removed his shirt to allow her to treat his shoulder; no other way to be done. Saw the reason for his faith. Must believe in something to survive such things. Wondered why and when river would get hers back.

"Is he allowed pain killers?" River asked as she cleaned it up. Would tend to the Beast next. Nearly finished taping the torches to the walls.

"Yes, and praise be for that," he nodded his head. It wasn't as deep as Shazza's, but there was equal pain on the already taxed man. Never healthy growing up, barely survived what came before the long night. His thoughts calmed as the medicated pad came over his shoulder and he moved it tentatively. A side of him long buried was peeking up through sand. Like Book.

"Are you well?" she asked of the blonde.

"Yeah. Dehydrated, exhausted, but not bleeding." Saw them as bait until the wound was sealed. Brighter now in her mind and around them all. "You got any more protein?"

He and Ali finished just as the protein was being dished out. Kid didn't half ass it when he was setting up the lights. Had them figured out to burn at a steady pace and didn't skimp on the tape. Felt around for the best place to put them and set them on the ground if there wasn't anything. Like she said, he was happy to eat now. Took the biscuit without complaint and took a place beside Imam before he started talking. Jack was nibbling at her own, a ball of hormones in her own little corner. Watching him with hopeful eyes and starting a whole new head game with people who knew and didn't care to take part.

"Sit," River gestured to the spot in front of her. The only one standing out of everyone. "Must check him over."

"Caveman style?" he asked.

"Nurse Tam," she teased back. "Sit, please. She will feed him and make sure he has not been cut."

Damn if he wasn't thinking on her in a nurse's getup. Cute little cap, tiny little skirt, just as soaking wet as she was now though. He took the spot in front of her and let her check over his back, his arms, even his neck and the beginning of his ass before she handed him a chunk of protein and moved to the front of him. Not a bad place to be with her. Trying to keep herself focused and making his thoughts scatter before he could get them defined. Took him a second to remember he was influencing her like that first time. Didn't need that right now. Seduction was different than what that had been.

"Neither here nor now," she whispered to him. Didn't need to shout in this place. Everything echoed. A few were looking at her like she was mad, Shazza wondering before refocusing on cleaning the gun she'd grabbed off of her dead husband and the shotgun from Johns. Ali didn't care at all. Better to have crazy parents than none.

"Maybe not, but I'm not usually in the habit of feeling guilty over sex."

The scowl he got from River was equal in value to the shock he got from Frye and Imam. Completely worth it and damn if she wasn't surprised he'd say it out loud.

"Knows he pleased her first," she scoffed. She was checking his calves over as best she could, satisfied with what she saw even if she wasn't happy with what her ears heard. "Hardly complaining." Except there was something about her face or her scent, something primal that told him she was thinking on something else. Her voice fell down to the barest whisper. "Fuses are shot, melted into the steel that contains the power they need. Not enough fuel to last through the night or the storm."

Riddick glanced over at the others. He could make it. If he went with the cells he could hook them up, get the skiff running, go. Except there were two things wrong with that. The first of which was his psychic partner and wife, at least by the word of a holy book and the law of hell. Match made in hell...made him grin just a bit. The tingle was staying out of his head, letting him think his way through whatever he had planned. First time he met a reader who knew how to stay out of someone's head, much less kept quiet about what they saw inside. Something about that, about letting the holy man do it, if only for morale heaped a whole bunch of morals onto him. Killing someone wasn't the same as leaving your wife and stepkid to die in a cave in the dark. Even if it was just words, they were heavy words and he'd accepted them for what they were.

"Keep just enough for the door," he decided on. Her mouth opened to protest, numbers practically running through her scent, but he kept on. "I'l get the cells to the skiff. Get it runnin' and then come back. Got too many injured."

She gave him a look, measuring and finding him suitable. Not wanting, she'd never looked at him that way, least not yet. Her face and scent changed as she caught that last thought. It was the kind of look that told him he was being an idiot and wasting time. She shook her head and all those dark curls flew back and forth, drying nicely and filling the air with a scent free of hygiene products and perfume.

"Beautiful will keep a light on for the Beast," she looked at him once more. Bit like a fairy and faintly blue in his vision. Needed to figure that out. "Can not guarantee a home cooked meal. She is a terrible one."

"Now what good is a wife who can't cook?" He stood and grinned once more at the shock in the cave.

"Never needed to know," she defended easily. Playful and scent flickering with all kinds of things that made him want to indulge in some caveman behavior. "Was taught to be pretty, was taught to kill, and was taught to be a bedpartner." She looked up at him from her spot on the floor and he knew she was going to get an inquisition once he left.

Maybe that was why he leaned down and kissed her.

Had the feeling he would go. Considered pulling something in the way of the cave before winding the harness round his arms and taking off. Second decision was coming now. Stay or go. Leave the only partner he'd ever managed to trust, or rescue her and his self proclaimed stepkid?

"That was too sweet," Shazza pulled River from her wool gathering. She was watching from her corner of the cave, still working over the gun she'd nabbed from Johns but a bit more focused on what was going on in front of her. Imam and Ali were going about the room, putting out the lights they didn't need and setting them aside. "Curious about that lao puo bit though."

"Holy man offered blessings," she answered simply. "Took them, knowing. Doesn't know why, perhaps it was as a trip to New Vegas."

"It does put me more at ease, knowing that you knew," Imam admitted. His mind relaxed and contentment blossomed out. Ali by his side was bright and shining with the knowledge as he came to sit beside her. Had been clinging to an old life in case the new one faded away. Would it break his heart when they separated? Would they? Too many variables to think on. Too much for such a small space.

"I'm sorry," Frye raised a hand. "What the hell would posses you to agree to marrying him?"

"Wasn't possessed. They were became partners when the crash began, have remained so. Bounty on her head and a creed of Greed kept them silent," River covered Ali's ears until he heard only the sound of their blood rushing. "Have been secret and mindful when partaking in acts meant for two."

"You've been fucking him?" Frye asked. Shocked and jealous, hurt even that she hadn't been chosen. That a girl from the core was once again her better. Not her better, simply chosen.

"Ugly words," River frowned. Ali was counting rocks, bored and caring not at all for what they spoke of, whatever it might be. "Makes all things shining dim."

"He's a fucking murderer," Frye countered. Shazza didn't admit that there was a point to that; Frye's own actions were blooming in her head.

"Are you not?" River asked. She slowly uncovered Ali's ear and went to sit beside Jack. The girl was adapting to the drugs in her system, pain just at the edge of her mind and form. "Must be patient."

"Do you really think he's coming back?" she asked. Worried that the image of the man she'd heard of was the man out there, that the persona he'd put on wasn't truth.

"Shouldn't worry so much." River leaned back against the wall and looked at the door. "Not even there yet."

Would be soon though. Would be there soon and he would wonder and ponder. Would think on things he wanted and had and needed and thought himself too much of a badass for. Too much of a threat to. Would think on his label as Psychopath and wear it like a cloak. Like Armor. Keep the man who was deep under the ground, like bioraptors, like the facility they sat in now. No magazines in the waiting room. Only dirt and sand and rusted doors.

A blink. Was the beast right? River pulled away and turned to face the wall. Was she truly fallable? Knew she was in theory, and a lack of correct data often led to foolish theories and ideals, but did she miss this because she hadn't listened well enough to the minds of the broken? What was so different about this place to make her hear and see that it was a door? Escape, safety, light if she could get in and past the stone. Waiting under her fingers and humming silently as the minds behind her buzzed and jagged edges came into the sound of it all. Brushed them away. Not helpful. A seam in the rock, hidden but not, disguised to be a proper seam in proper rock but this was not. Hummed, gave a faint glow and hid secrets behind it. Secrets of safety beyond reach that all fled from or ran towards. Barred from the otherside and flying through stars and dust. Could she open the crack in the wall and climb through to the other side? Couldn't let the stone fly them out. Would crash again, possibly die a great and firey death worthy of song and of dance.

Pulled her knife and slid it into the seam of the rock. Just the edge. Would dull the blade if she moved wrong. Mustn't, wouldn't. Could take the tool from ali but he already thought her mad like the others. Mad Momma was better than Bad Momma. Worked to widen it, to ease it open and give her the secrets within. Could not seduce, could not force, must work carefully until she got through to the other side. Felt the Stone go white hot before falling quiet again. Still in the cave, stewing over sticking it in crazy and polished little girls wanting a bad boy. Shazza wondered if she'd heard something or if it was the madness brought on by Alliance doctors. Or maybe she was Schizophrenic. Knew things though. Settled on ignoring it until she started slicing on people instead. Like Jayne. Much like Jayne. Bad match, good match, didn't matter.

Click. Tap, scrape of metal on metal that only a few heard. Imam and Jack who'd been watching her for lack of else to do. One came over, taller than them both and looked to see what she was digging at. Needed more light, from above did little to help her see. Silly little larva, didn't know they lived for death. Saw them but did not hear them for the clicking and screeching out of doors.

"Did he say he'd come back?" Frye asked. Sent fear and doubt through them. Tired of hearing her bitter words and jagged thoughts. Would kill them all even now. Not for malice save one, but for survival. Believed in Darwin beyond what was true. Different kind of animal.

"Didn't need to," she called over her shoulder, still trying to get through. More metal against metal, particular kind of screech that made a body and a brain wine for the sound of it. "Welcome to go check and see."

Had a bad feeling. That tingle in his brain was gone. Not that he missed it, got pretty fucking annoying if he was honest. Except now, it felt strange. Not a tingle or even a full thought, but something odd. Like she was getting wooly and didn't even know it. That wasn't it either though. Maybe it was his conscience. Kicking it's head up after all these years and trying to get him to go save someone else. Except that usually landed him in prison. Not that he wasn't used to it by now, but those little jaunts tended to happen when he was getting tired or got outnumbered. Partner might lessen that, or it might make it worse. Then again, she didn't seem overly interested in anything long term or permanent. Chafed him, just a bit.

"Fuck!" Cell kept shocking him when he tried to get it into the homemade converter River and Shazza jerry rigged together. He could remember Ali muttering about it during the run. Fuck. Had to go back if only for the kid. Maybe his wife too. Something was wrong with the whole situation. By the time the cel was hooked up he wasn't sure if he wanted to check the engines or not. Knew that enough light, but he wasn't so sure about how safe they were in the dark and underground.

He flicked the switches, double checked everything going on with the ship and made sure their shitty pilot hadn't bogged the thing down or miscalculated things. She had. Four power cells...damn thing only needed three. Made him think on River; how Frye knew less about ships than she did of landing them. Funny thing that, being right without knowing it. Except something was very odd when he looked back up. Frye was standing in front of him, bottle high in the air and daring him to try and leave with her standing in front. Now what was that about?

He saw exactly what it was about when he opened the hatch. She'd snagged the big gauge from Shazza and now she had it pointed at his head. Not the heart or the waist, but right at his goddamn head. Far enough away she'd hit him if he tried to take it.

"Strong survival instinct," He admitted. "Admire that in a woman."

"You're not leaving. Not without the others." Her tone was solid and there wasn't a lie in her scent at all. Made him laugh a bit when the tingle popped back. Surprised, raging, completely indignant and ready to kill someone. "Not without your family. Not without the people you chose to protect and guide through this shit."

"Think you've mistaken me for somebody who gives a fuck." He leaned against the ship and watched her. Something was very off about this. She believed her words too much. "That, or you think you're gonna ghost me if I don't offer to get out of here with just you."

"What? You afraid?" Challenging him to cover her shame. Still didn't let her gun leave his head or admit to it.

"Ah, confusin' me with Johns now. Fear was his monkey. I only deal in life and death." He couldn't feel river anymore. She'd turned into something he couldn't figure out and left his mind with a single purpose. "All that stuff in between? Some shade of grey my eyes don't see."

"I trusted you Riddick," she adjusted her grip. There it was. Jealous woman was pointing a gun at him with the kind of crazy he really didn't care for. The kind he made an effort to avoid whenever he was looking for some in a dive bar. "Goddamn, I trusted that some part of you wanted-"

"To go balls deep?" He cut her off. "Oh, I know that. Tell me, did you kill Tam first? Or did you just think about it?"

"Thought about a wall actually." Frye was too pleased with herself. "See, you two kind of have this thing between you. Gets a bit obvious when Johns isn't looking. Start to have a conversation with your eyes. And Tam, Fey, whatever the fuck, she knows a couple things she shouldn't."

"Figured out she was a reader and you thought about a wall to escape." Pretty clever that, 'cept she didn't know what was coming for her. Neither did he, but maybe that was part of what made it fun. Definately what made him take off his goggles and start looking into the darkness. "So what, just blocked out your intentions?"

"Nah, thought on the back wall and how that crack looked like a door. Thought maybe something good was back there, but more than that. I started convincing myself there was something back there." She was grinning now. "Imagine my surprise when she actually found a door. Course, with as much as she's digging, she'll probably let something in that way. And you, being the leading sack of shit you are, aren't leaving this planet without her soon to be dead scrawny ass."

He was seeing it now. A ruckus of a crazy kind going on out in the dark. Something shining every now and again. Raptors swarming on a place before they'd stop moving and start getting eaten. Something small was coming at them with a speed he hadn't predicted, something real dangerous and just a little blue.

"Been wondering actually, if rejoining the human race is worth it." Got Frye's attention and her grip on the gun was loosening just a bit. "I mean, words don't mean shit, you know? And I wasn't leading you on."

"No?" Frye asked. "Then why go after Tam?"

"Ah, come on?" he grinned. "Little thing like that? All white lace and innocent? And I do mean innocent. Didn't even know what a dick looked like until she saw mine. Couldn't resist."

That little blue dot was closer now, and person shaped. Ducking and arching and moving through the night like a fairy. The kind of fairy from those really old fairy tales of Earth, who cursed livestock and tore the soles of yoru shoes out for slighting them. Frye was a kind of fairy herself, bit more vindictive thought. And harder to trick. Her scent and stance only barely relaxed as she turned the words over in her head. Got that unstable scent that meant she might kill you in your sleep as easily as she might fuck you awake. She'd already tried the one.

"Just get the fuck off the skiff," she bit out. Apparently she wasn't happy with his attempt to get on her good side.

"Got a better idea." He liked having a fairy around. And there she was, right at the edge of sanity and just waiting for the words. Beautifully broken with eyes shining in the night. "Talk it over with her."

A delicate leg popped up to kick Frye in the back and the shotgun gent down to the ground. River Tam was standing there, not altogether sane or human in that moment and just rippling with a killer's mind. Soaking wet and covered in dark stains while blades flashed every time Frye tried to pick up the gun. A twirl and a dodge as Frye tried to grab at her without getting hit or get to the gun. Too many people relied on guns in Riddick's opinion. Frye lunged again and managed to get a hold on the gun before the blade came down on her head. Not dead, but face down in the mud and soon to be breathing it in if they didn't get her out of it. The woman turned on him then, still rippling and just a bit blue as she measured him. Longer this time, analyzing and far from human. A wild fairy girl smelling of wine and blood and standing victorious over the woman she'd been warring against since they met.

"Beautiful," he smiled at her.

A pause in the ripples but still not quite there. Those eyes were still watching him though, testing the threat level before she let herself relax. Body ready to attack at any moment as he sat down on the edge of the ramp.

"My Beautiful, wild, fairy girl," he spoke again. Wasn't so much that she was spooky right now as he wanted to talk. Wasn't used to getting silence from her when he tried to talk. Most guys he'd ignore or walk away if they weren't listening. Not River though. River was coming back just a little bit every time he spoke up. "Always wondered about them, fairies. Nuns at the home used to tell us stories. Tended to be jokers most of the time, but every so often a smart one would pop up. A beautiful one too. Never the same one though. Not unless it was some fairy queen kidnapped by goblins."

She was almost done. Almost out of that killer's haze she'd gotten herself into. Could see it in her eyes and the wine was almost back to being fresh green grapes.

"Except the guy who rescued the queen never got to marry her. Got knighted, got gifts and crowns of flowers," He looked her in the eyes. Those sane eyes that were aware of what was going on as she let her blades slide closed. "Sometimes he'd even get a kiss."

"Don't have time for more. Waiting for us." Her blades were back on her thighs and she was moving to kneel front of him. Not quite as blue as last time, but still stood out against the rest of his violet colored world.

"What if we bring 'em back here, and then go at it caveman style?" His grin got bigger when a giggle popped up from her lips. "Got an extra cell 'cause we had a Shitty pilot who knows less about ships than she does landing them."

"Wants her to get sand in places it shouldn't be." She leaned forward and soft lips touched his. Gentle and sweet in all kinds of ways that shouldn't be his. "Does he truly wish to lug a cell back and forth three times in the dark? Or would he rather sequester away in the cockpit on the way to New Mecca?"

"Honeymoon suite," he chuckled against her lips. "Alright. Talked me into it. We'll bring the family along."

"Glad the husband agrees." She kissed him again. Almost softer than the first time but just as sweet. "A kiss for a deed well done, and more when they return to their kingdom in the sky."

She wasn't as strong as he was, but she was quick about rigging shit together. Ripped the safety lights from the skiff and plugged them in real quick like while he got Frye cuffed to a post at the back of the thing and far from flight control. After that it was quick. She wasn't as strong as he was, but the light was brighter and she was fast without other people to bog her down. Made the trip in a quarter of the time with her and only one cell. Sliding down into the canyon and hearing the raptors click with nerves and pain, flesh burning in his nose as they passed the ones playin' possum or so close to death they couldn't fly away. Didn't stop 'til they were in front of that little light and the others were smiling from inside. All this for a kiss from Beautiful.

~!~

Playing at nurse again as she peeled the bandage from Shazza's leg. Couldn't see how good or bad it was for the light. Life raft was exactly that. Enough fuel to get into the lanes and stick a thumb out. Enough room to keep from going mad and stacked bunks that folded against the wall to give them room to walk about. A folding table in the floor to give them something to lean on. The wall was what came in the Beast's mind. The wall Frye had told him on and the one that would let him claim his prize. Not the Fey or Tam, but the person he'd seen popping her head out from the sand while she came back from being something else. Thought to meet her now. Had seen the girl at the edge of the abyss and the darkness, had seen her while she was death for an ideal, had seen her kind and calm to children and the injured. Called her a saint, tending to children and criminals.

"Go on," Shazza waved her off. "Can see you man eyeing you like a steak."

"Should hope he doesn't wish to grill her with onions," River made a face.

"Deserve it after that gou se," Shazza waved her off. "Kid's tuckered out with Imam and Jack's not likely to move for anything right now."

Wanted a moment to grieve alone. Not likely to take her life. Guns were locked away up front and the woman wanted to sit and stare and realize what was her life now.

"Yes ma'am," River gave her a light salute. "Likely to be a sarge yourself when the time comes."

"God I hope not," She grimaced.

River looked about once more before going to the front of the skiff. Riddick was waiting there, course set as near as he could get it to go. Would drift for a week or more if they were not picked up. Cryo cuffs had been discovered under the beds for just such an occasion. He was staring at the Black though his mind was on her. Her hand went to the control panel and the doors slid shut. Private room for the honeymooners to indulge in several new fantasies he'd created between then and now. River took her seat on his lap and wondered at the stars in his eyes.

"Wishes him to know that she was not attempting to buy her safety with sex." Her hands went to his shoulders and she leaned back against the console. His shirt was hanging from a hook in the back, drying with most everyone else's things. Let her admire the skin and the muscle structure spread out before her. Let her scent him more fully in the air and smile for it.

"Knife work like you had out there, never even crossed my mind."

"Shouldn't lie if you can't do it better than that."

That brought a chuckle from him, deep and rich like the Beast below. Arms went around her waist and pulled her closer, away from the console so she leaned on his chest. Thoughts flickering through his head on words some preacher man had told him once before. Marriage needed to be consummated for validation.

"Thinking too much on the words of holy men with broken books," she whispered. Her forehead touched his and starry eyes shone back at her. "Felt him struggling in there with the idea of it all. Won't push him or pull him. Hates cells as much as she does."

"Here we are though, in this tiny little box. In the dark with hardly a thing between us." Hands strayed from her waist to her thighsand drifted up. The feel of sand between their skin and of dried sweat and rain was primal again. It was caveman again and the Beast was wondering if she'd stripped out of her knickers. "Catch a chill in those wet clothes."

"Does he promise she will not freeze?" she asked. His fingers were moving along her thighs, circling around for handfuls of flesh. Hot on her chilled skin as he pulled her closer.

"Blazing hot," he spoke against her lips.

A light kiss and a pinch to her behind before he leaned back and let her rise from his lap. Wanted to watch her as she stripped down to nothing. The Beast needed to see more of her than he had on that bed in the settlement. He would too. Would see so much more than he knew. For now there would be skin. There would be the removal of gauzey blouses, collecting her curls up before letting them fall down around her. Tracing over skin and tickling her back. Still damp from running and rain.

Made him start to growl, deep and low in his chest and she swayed to the sound of it. The bandeau was next, unclipped and falling down to the floor, caught by the quick hand of the Beast. Leaning forward now to smell her skin and press lips to her stomach. Warm and soft before lips parted and heavy breaths spread out against her skin. Riddick's mouth drifted and teeth grazed her ribs before she moved away once more. Something to making a man wait and watch that made her enjoy it. Making him scowl and teasing him ignited the hope she had that he wouldn't be so worried this time. Not so distracted.

Hers hands drifted from the ribs he'd nipped at down to her hips were the skirt still held. Unzipped it for him, let it pool around her feet on the floor to stand bare before him. Nothing but a smile as he rose up and began to unbutton and unzip. Still larger than average, still the Beast she wanted and needed. She hungered for him.

"Got an idea," he rumbled, coming closer. She was pressed up against the wall, excited and nervously wanting his idea. Didn't know the particulars of it but knew a bit. Knew enough to make her breath catch as he braced his arms on either side of her. "Little bit caveman, little bit animal."

Riddick leaned forward and buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply before he put his mouth on her skin and nipped at her. Kissed and suckled until she thought she might fall to the grated floor. Hands were on her hips again, holding her closer to he and his sex. Stiff and twitching against her stomach, pulsing in time with her own while kisses on her neck became more aggressive, more nipping and shifting as sighs came from her being. Kneaded her flesh and pushed his hips against her own until they were in rhythm with one another and she could have screamed for wanting him. Like for like, equal in teasing and torture. Lips on her own, hard and devouring her, teaching her something new that she agreed wholeheartedly with. Remembered what his tongue could do and her knees began to shake from it.

"Need you," She breathed against his mouth when he pulled back. Not much, just enough to breath her in. "I want you."

"Turn around and I'll let you have me."

Like a beast. Wanted his fairy on all fours as he took his prize. Made her shake to think on it, made it easy to turn and go down on her hands and knees. Exciting to look over her shoulder and see him admiring and kneeling behind her. Latex already around the length that rest upon her buttocks. Rough hands on her flesh once more before a kiss was placed on her spine. Traced her skin and fingers dipping into places that made her jump until they moved on. Dipped low and into her, making her sigh again as they moved too slowly. Wouldn't let her move though. Held her still with his free hand and he spread her wetness around and moved against her.

"Please, she is sorry she teased a beast."

"Good."

Didn't slam into her. Riddick moved slowly and paused when her breath caught from the sensation. Still sore but perfectly full. Pulled out just as slow and draw a sigh from her. Went into her hard then and made her yelp from it, touching places he hadn't before and then pulling out slowly again. Wasn't animal but it was the Beast who did this. Slow and smooth before he did it again, nearly lifted her knees from the floor and her cry made the growls increase. Still teasing her but teasing himself as well. River tried to move back against him only to have a sharp swat; brought her things she knew of in tales and showed her how they felt.

"Please," she breathed as his hand caressed the abused flesh of her behind. "Please, both need, no one to hear us."

"Gotta teach you patience later," he rumbled. Lips touched her spine again before he thrust into her again. Wasn't teasing now, went harder, faster, like animals on the floor but better. Held her hips tighter and kept the pace to his liking. Knees off the floor and resting on her elbows, crying out against the floor and her arms as Riddick took her. There was the feel of him, taking what she offered and making her body sing and tighten all over as he moved her. Felt herself climbing higher as he pounded into her flesh, harder and growling with each movement until her cries couldn't match him. Muscles went tighter and her throat began to ache as he went. Too much, past full and screaming as the world burned bright and blue around them and her body shook from it. Wasn't done though, still pushing into her, harder, wilder and drawing out her joy he'd brought her until his growls turned into a roar and he fell forward, caging her body for a moment before he fell aside. Took her with him before he pulled out and let her pant against his arm.

Took more effort than she had to face his chest. Instead she pressed back against him and was content. Lay like that until he moved her closer and sat up. Let her continue laying against his chest while he propped himself agains the console. Hadn't had the time or the quiet to really and truly fuck her as he thought on.

Thought on a few things before brushing them from his mind. Knew better than to bring up her family now. Didn't want to think on family at all. That meant too many things he wasn't prepared for.

Bit him. Not hard, but enough to draw his attention. Away from distracting thoughts and back to her. What they'd done and what she was. Beautiful. Dangerous. And very possibly a bit of a nympho. Riddick was wondering what sort of creature he'd created.

"The kind that will not apologize for making him spank her." Her teeth grazed his skin again and he grinned down at her full of wickedness.

"Noticed that." His eyebrows raised with his words and he stopped caring what he'd brought out in her. "Wonderin' if you were ever spanked as a child."

"Never."

"Never?"

"She was too smart to get caught." River shifted so she could lean against him and the wall more fully. "Even if she had been caught, it would have been sitting in her room and reading from the broken book. Had the sort of family who didn't believe in such base behavior as spankings."

"What would they think of you now? Curled up naked next to a con...doesn't seem very smart to me."

She poked him in the side and he growled as tired muscles jumped. Upset she'd found it, the on place that tickled and made it spread wherever her fingertips danced.

"Forgets that he's the one who lured a schizophrenic into his grasp."

Riddick laughed for the feeling on his body and her reply. A pair of crazy folk runnin' around in the dark and killing things before going at it like animals. Except the crazy was different. Hers was forced on her, bit like his and not at all. Violent, messy, pokin' around in her head while his was a bit more...natural. Picked up from a life in one cell or another. Didn't matter if it was at the children's home or Slam City, it was all a jail cell. Any thoughts he might have had growing up, any dreams about being a normal fuckin' person were long dead and buried. Except this one.

"Pops its head up like a meercat." Her voice was soft and secret. Like she didn't even want to admit it. "Prima Ballerina Assoluta, would have known her name across the verse for her grace and kindness. Even you."

He already knew she was graceful and kind. Maybe that's why he agreed to it in the first place. Wanted it, to break it or keep it, didn't know.

"Could have done anything, ended up running because we saw too much."

"Nothin' truer than that."

He'd been pretty smart at the home. Smart enough to do anything with the right scholarships, ended up a company man instead. Seemed to go downhill form there. Started reading people instead of books and studying situations over star charts. Used to think about girls like the one laying against his side, impressing them with a fancy job and maybe even a ship of his own. Strange verse they lived in that he ended up with her.

"Considering blowing them up." He looked down at the woman who began speaking and wondered if he should worry. She was staring at the divider with a vague kind of scent and her hand was cool on his chest. "She could indulge in the title they give her. Terrorist. Set Parliament ablaze and destroy Hera. Send them running like headless chickens without a street to cross."

"Thought you wanted to see the Sidhe system?" He asked. "Not against a bit of violence myself, but that's kind of the opposite way."

"She will, and it is." Smelling him again, breathing real deep and getting that vague scent out of her system. "Was thinking on after. Wondered what to do when Avalon is nothing more than a pile of rocks or the whispers of a dream. Grandmother could be dead or mad. Never did check Elysium records to see."

"So crazy is a bit of a family thing." He didn't growl when she poked at him this time. Instead he pulled her into his lap and grinned. "Once we get to New Mecca you're going to have to buy a ship. Steal one of a merc or a pimp maybe, but they like to keep their records real clean out here."

"Hears them whispering," she shook her head and the bridge was filled with something new; not wine or grapes, but something just at the edge of a word. River was swaying just a little bit and her mind was someplace out there where words didn't have a place. "The gallery floats through, collecting specimens for the queen and shiny cashy money for the hive. Sleeping, always sleeping until she calls them. Collecting them for her garden, flowers to look upon and smell, holds them to her chest for loneliness or comfort until her tears stop."

He didn't speak, just let her keep floating wherever it was she happened to be. Never met a reader who hadn't told him useless shit. Not until River. Not always perfect, but not usually wrong either. Tended to be kind of dangerous when she got hazy too. So he didn't speak. Just let her sit in his lap, faintly blue and swaying to some tune he sure as fuck couldn't hear. Beautiful like this, real ethereal and fairylike. Much as he thought that, Riddick liked her more when she was with him. Was never the type to be very good at riddles or poems. Comprehension was fine so long as he had most of the puzzle in front of him, but this...

"ETA in 16 hours. Prepping containment crew and clearing dock 3." The voice wasn't quite hers but he knew what that meant a helluva lot more than the last thing she said. Riddick breathed deep when the scent of grapes came back into the air. "Will need to be healed and ready by that time. Coming for them, both of them for the garden, but the girl is only to accompany him. Insulting."

He laughed again. The face she made and the way everything shifted was too much. River Tam was too much for his game face to stick very long. Problem with that if he ever found himself making a back alley deal for a ship and some guns.

"What?" he asked. She was making a face at him.

"Wouldn't go with him when he made his business deals. Would ruin his image and she is not fond of back alleys. Better at robbing banks or stealing." She gave a little shrug. "Would be faster to procure one set of items while he found another. If they continued as partners after New Mecca."

If. Mighty big if, wasn't it? Kinda nice though, bein' able to communicate without him needing to talk. Wasn't that he was against it so much as he didn't have much to say or people worth talking to. Not unless he needed a team to bust out of some place. Then it was orders, his show and they needed to know their parts. Quick study sitting in front of him. Nails were tracing down his sides, making his breath catch when they tickled before moving down to trace circles on his stomach. River leaned forward and breathed him in again. It made her pulse pick up and that animal need inside of her spike through her scent. Released a real nympho when he went down on her yesterday.

"Sleep first," he stopped her. "Ain't had any real sleep in a while, if these guys are really coming, need to be on our toes."

She was pouting at him now, arms crossed and a look on her face to make him grin again. All kindsa fun bein' with her. He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss before adjusting himself against the console. She wasn't having it though. Stood up and made him open his eyes to watch her fiddle with the chairs and pull a couple of levers. He had to scoot when both of the chairs fell horizontal. Another safety was released and she had them shifted up against each other to make a bed. Crappy chairs made a reasonable bed; He'd been wondering why a six person skiff only had two places to sleep.

"No blankets," she huffed, letting herself fall onto it. "Clothes are dirty, would not like to put them on until she must."

Fair enough. He joined River on the mattress and pulled her over to him. Tiny thing, but soft where she needed to be and the right size to fit inside of his grasp. She knew he liked to be close to a woman after sex; He didn't fucking cuddle. If the woman in his arms had ever even implied that he cuddled, he might have left her ass on that rock.

"Sleep," her voice came across. "Thinking on things so silly as words."

"Yeah yeah," he moved his arms to cushion his head. Headrests didn't do shit when you wanted to sleep on your side.

This was enough he decided as he started to let himself drift off. Place to rest his head and a partner to watch his six. And whatever numbers weren't on the clock to begin with. Like a thirteen, or a twenty... He better not start to fucking talk like her. River made a noise and he brushed the thought away. Thinkin' on words again.


There ya go. All done. With Pitch Black at least. Might get around to Dark Fury at some point relatively soon, then Chronicles. Of course, there will be Firefly coming in now and again. Mostly a lot of squawking from Simon and some confusion on behalf of most others. And Shazza will be a very, very, delightful cook for Serenity and the family. We'll touch on them again at some point of course. Riddick will meet them and River will agree to reunite for a short time, but she's not going to crew with them unless they call her in for some particular missions or the war starts again. Which it will.

Seriously. I'm starting the war again.

And River is going to blow up some buildings. It's all very flamboyant and action filled. With sex. Violence and sex and really just another vacation for River and Riddick.

Until next time!