VIII.
Riddick had watched the scene from afar. For a moment he had thought about interfering but then decided against it; he would only challenge her defiant nature and he'd have a few words with Murrey afterwards anyway. But not interfering didn't mean leaving them alone. The grin on his face grew bigger by the minute … Murrey seemed to be able to dig his grave all by himself. Hope's body language was easy enough to read for him … Murrey had said something she didn't like and she was getting very angry … stupid fuck. Riddick nearly laughed out loud … he knew what Murrey tried to do. Well, the best-laid plans of mice and men …. Couldn't have phrased it better. (*) He knew Murrey didn't stand a chance with Hope but by simply trying it he was up to some punishment; he was definitely looking forward to his private little chat with him.
For Riddick time was fleeting that day, but a lot had been accomplished in those hours… Hope had informed him that two of the planet killers would be completed until midnight, the ships were equipped with everything they'd need, plans were made, everybody had his/her last orders, they'd be ready for take off within the next 27 hours and when night fell there was only one thing left to do …
************
It was pitch black when Murrey went to his quarter; though (?) one of the moons bathed the open area in an eerie blue light the shadows between the houses were impenetrable dark and he was only able to see what was right in front of him. Haven't they ever heard of streetlights? He had given up hope he would see her, be able to talk to her again that day. Nocturnal birds made their creepy sounds, some howling was to be heard in the distance, wind rustled through the trees … it was like in one of those old horror movies. A sudden feeling of dread sent a shiver down his spine, let his stomach flip … he had the distinct feeling that somebody … something … was watching him, following him. Quickening the pace he turned his head, tried to pierce the darkness that surrounded him but to no avail. 'Murrey, don't be ridiculous, nobody is following you. This planet is safer than any other in the whole galaxy!'
Murrey had almost reached his quarter when all of a sudden a hand came out of the dark and grabbed his throat. For a second Murrey's heart stopped beating, his mouth went dry and the cry he tried to get out died in his gorge. Silvery eyes gleamed down on him ... Riddick! He didn't know whether he should be relieved or terrified all the more.
Riddick growled menacingly, but when you knew him well enough you were able to hear the amusement well hidden behind it; he was enjoying himself immensely. "You look like you are afraid of the dark, Murrey. And you'd better be, Furya isn't safe for you."
The night around Murrey had become even more darker with Riddick's words and he actually would have been glad if one of those wild Furyan animals he had feared only a moment ago had tried to attack him; he might have been able to escape an animal, but you don't stand a ghost of a chance against Riddick. In his fear he had problems concentrating on Riddick's next words.
"We have to talk and you should listen carefully because I won't say it twice. You will stay away from her, if you meet her somewhere by accident you will not talk to her and if you dare touch her I'll break your fingers bone by bloody bone … it's your eyes we need, not your hands. Are we clear?"
"Riddick, I never touched her." was all Murrey was able to choke out.
"And that's the only reason you still live; keep it that way and you may leave the planet intact. She's mine. And now go ahead and don't bother me anymore." With that he dropped an air deprived Murrey; he had made his point.
In a trace of sheer desperation Murrey looked up to the huge Furyan looming over him like a dark steely icon. The little man was so hell-bent on taking Hope with him he didn't fear for himself as he should have and that made him braver than he actually was. "She told me she's not married to you." Riddick's growl let Murrey stagger back and bring some space between them, although he was sure Riddick wouldn't kill him coz he still needed him. Well, he almost was.
"Do you really think she needs a ceremony to know to whom she belongs?" To Murrey's luck he amused Riddick ... a little cockroach showing bravery when the shoe had almost hit him. He had to give him that he didn't wet his pants but Riddick could tell Murrey was short of. He could smell the fear, could see beads of cold sweat glistening on Murrey's forehead. Should he have some real fun with him right now? No … he had better things to do than playing games with that little ferret. It was his last night in a real bed with Hope and he intended to enjoy each minute; his patience with Murrey diminished fast now. "Now get lost … and remember to stay away from Hope."
*********************
They had a last meeting early next morning. Though nobody had a doubt that they would solve the problem they were aware that maybe not all of them would return to Furya. There wasn't much to say anymore, everybody knew what to do and everything was said … it's been more a farewell meeting than anything else and only a few last orders were given.
"Kerry, hail Imam. Tell them to get their asses over here, they are better off on Furya than on Helion Prime. Sara is to watch every single person that steps out of an incoming ship and if she sees something out of place you'll shoot without asking any questions.
Geoffrey, you are in charge, Laney will assist you if needed. Taylor, you immediately start building that planetary defense system."
Everybody nodded in agreement and that was it, meeting concluded, time to kick some Draugar asses.
Riddick and Hope accompanied them to the waiting ships ... the Pride and the Freedom would take off within the next hour and everybody was already boarding.
Although no tears were shed a grave silence laid over the whole place. Even the kids were captured by the mood of the adults. Hope got to watch some really touching scenes … a lot of couples had come together only recently. The scene between Carlos and Chrissy nearly broke Hope's heart … it was evident how hard it was for them to separate. They had met a few weeks ago, she herself had introduced them and it had been love at first sight. Chrissy had become a dear friend to her as well … they resembled in a way … they could have been twins and she could feel her pain as sharp as it would be hers. It would have killed her if she would have been in her place, watch Riddick leave. But Chrissy was no warrior and besides that she was just too important for the planet, she had to stay. Furya's fast growing population had to get fed and she wasn't only a skilled and well respected native healer but their expert when it came to the planet's wildlife, especially the eatable … the big megaloceros that looked a bit like an oversized hart, the gastornis, birdlike and delicious when cooked and the biggest animal they had detected, the aurochs, weighing a ton and about 6 feet tall. 'He'll come back, my friend, I swear.' She promised silently.
Riddick and Hope watched the take off of the ships; they would follow them soon ... they had been that busy arranging everything they had no time yet to pack their own things and with the Defiant's speed they'd overtake them in next to nothing anyways.
His eyes followed the ships that majestically rose from the ground. They were huge ships, their silvery hull plates glistened in the sun like quicksilver and you could clearly read their names, painted in big black letters on their sides. Freedom … Pride … both strong and good names for a battle cruiser. As they climbed up to the sky Riddick could see the weapons phalanxes they had attached; the ships bore more phaser power and had more photon and plasma torpedoes on board now than any other ship in the known universe. Powerful, potent, deadly … and HIS ... being the Alpha of an entire race definitely had its advantages. When he couldn't see them anymore he grinned down to Hope. "Come on, babe, let's get ready." He had been planet bound way too long and he was eager now to leave himself. He couldn't wait to join his army as their leader, to fight and kill those bodysnatching monsters.
The war against the Draugar had begun.
(*)(quote: Robert Burnes)
