"Oh," He tossed over his shoulder. "Ask him 'bout the shakes. And ask why your crew-pal had to scream like that 'fore he died."

- - -

Johns shifted around the private room he'd found to rest in. He grabbed a metal shotgun shell from a little red box, pulling the shell open. He removed a glass ampule hidden inside, and sighed at the sight of it. Dropping it into an injection syringe, he tipped his head back, and stuck the needle beneath his lower eyelid. There was a small pinch, but as they drugs flooded his system, everything else seemed to blur.

"You're not a real cop, are you?" Fry asked from the doorway where she stood, watching him. "Just some mercenary who goes around talkin' about the law like—"

"I never said I was," Johns cut in.

"Never said you were a hype, either," She bit out coldly.

She moved closer. Rummaging through his things brazenly; he did nothing to stop her, and watched as her hands searched around. She easily found a shitload of red shells—all with hidden ampules inside.

"You have a little caffeine in the morning, I have a little morphine," Johns shrugged. "So what?"

"And here you got two mornings every day," She said with a false smile. "Wow, were you born lucky?"

Johns gave her a look, "It's not a problem unless you're gonna make—"

"You made it a problem when you let Owens die like that," Fry lashed out with a snarl. "When you had enough drugs to knock out a fucking mule-team."

"Owens was already dead," Johns said, as if explaining it to a small child. "His brain just hadn't caught on to that fact."

"Anything else we should know about you, Johns?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Christ, here I am lettin' you play games with our lives when you coulda helped. And you didn't."

Outside, they heard the Chrislams jabbering in Arabic. They were calling for their captain. Fry tensed at the use of the new title, and caught a glare that Johns tossed her way. She shook her head, scoffing at how ridiculous the situation seemed.

"Yeah," Johns said just before she could leave. "Well, look to thine own ass first. Right, 'captain'?"

The insult cut deep. She forced back the tears that wanted to form in her eyes. Instead, she whipped around, storming from the room with a dignified huff. She wouldn't be forced to listen to him. She wouldn't let him use her like he'd been using everyone. Stepping out into the sun, she let it warm her skin, and a quake of anxiety shot through her at the thought of it disappearing behind a giant rimmed planet.

Naruto watched as she walked out to meet with the religious group. He smiled at the sight of them swarming around her. He'd seen that look on Sakura's face so many times after Sasuke had left—Hell, he'd seen it on his own. It was good… It meant she was moving on and bettering herself. That was always a good thing. He turned, slipping into Johns' room, and cleared his throat to get the stripping man's attention.

Shirtless, the pale man whirled around and gave Naruto a small smile. "Hey."

"Hi," Naruto smiled back, looking him over. "So… who are you?"

Johns' face dropped. "What?"

"Who are you?" He said, walking forward with a strange cat-like prowl. "I mean, really?"

"Not you too," He shook his head, giving the smaller man a cold, indifferent stare. "You don't know anything about what's going on."

Naruto chuckled softly, a hand rubbing the back of his head. "Maybe… Or maybe I know a lot more than you think—"

"You're young," Johns said with a strange smirk, confidant that he was older than him and knew better. "You don't understand, but maybe you will someday."

"I'm young?" Naruto barked out a dark laugh. "Really? Just how old am I, Johns?"

"I dunno," He scanned the lithe form keenly. "Twenty—Twenty one?"

"I'm over three thousand years old," Naruto said, eyes flashing as Johns looked at him in confusion. "Wasn't expecting that were you?"

"You're kidding me, right?" Johns smirked, thinking it was some sort of game as he took a slow step forward. "What next? Are you some sort spy?"

"No, not anymore." He shook his head with a wistful smile. "Ex-ninja. Now, I have another question."

"What?" Johns snapped, completely convinced that Naruto was playing him.

"Why the hell didn't you help him?" He asked, stepping up almost chest to chest with Johns. "You have an unbelievable amount of drugs sitting on that dresser behind you, Johns. You could've helped him easily—could've eased the pain a little. Why didn't you?"

His hand moved with a flash, catching Naruto's wrist. He tugged the boy close, pressing himself tightly against the petite form as he brought that hand around his body. The forced embrace was awkward, Johns using quite a bit of his strength even as Naruto hardly put up a fight. His fingers soon found a jagged purple scar at the base of Johns' spine.

Blue eyes met blue, and a flash of awareness shot through the blonde. Pain hit him in the gut, and a sickness rocketed through his veins. He knew that scar—He'd felt a lot of them in his time. Both physical and mental scars, and none of them were ever pretty or ever fun…

"My first run-in with Riddick," Johns growled low into his ear. "Went for the sweet-spot and missed. They had to leave a piece of the shiv in there. I can feel it, sometimes, pressing against the cord."

Naruto scowled, taking his other hand and guiding it to a spot under his black shirt. He took Johns' hand with him, watching as the taller man's eyes widened. His fingers brushed against a rough scar along Naruto's ribcage—right where his heart was. Blue eyes turned crimson as they glared up coldly.

"You aren't the only one with wounds, Johns," Naruto hissed, pulling away from the closeness they'd shared for a moment. "Don't act like you are."

A shout got their attention, and they both stumbled outside. Naruto walked over to Fry's side staring in awe at the sight of gas rings rising on the horizon. Johns yanked a shirt over his head, lips twitching into a frown as he stepped out onto the dirt ground. All of them were looking towards the arch in the sky. It was luminous and completely ominous as it grew from the horizon.

"It's starting…" Naruto muttered, watching hypnotically as they arch grew, inching towards the two suns above.

Shazza seemed to be the first to wake up from their horror induced dream. "If we need anything from the crash ship—I suggest we kick on. That sand-cat's solar."

They all grabbed something. Each person snatching up either lights, water, or ropes. The Chrislams were already piling aboard the sand-cat. Fry called out orders, and soon the cat was moving. Riddick jumped into the rear bed, startling Paris and Jack as they stared up at him in awe. Johns had doubled back to grab his shotgun shells, only to swing out the door and catch up to the sand-cat with ease. Riddick reeled him aboard, giving him a cocky look.

Naruto hopped up next, easing himself down into a seat with a chipper smile. "Don't wanna miss this."

- - -

Tbc

I know, short. But don't worry. I'll also be updating on Friday or Sunday with a WAY long chapter (in my opinion). So, now you have something to look forward to, right?

Oh, and thank you to KounetsuDeb for finding me the transcript for Dark Fury. Now, all I need is Chronicles of Riddick. I'm leaving it up to YOU GUYS—if you don't find it, I can't continue. So, please, for the sake of my writing, FIND IT.

Thanks to all my other faithful readers/reviewers. I love you. You are my crack.

Poll has been decided:

Option C!!! I leave an alternate ending for "Pitch Dark" and then continue onto the other movies.

Anymore polls? Someone suggested that I have a bit of a three-way between Riddick/Vaako/Naruto. Sound good?

A) YES!!!

B)NO!!!

Seriously, I'll take ideas if you want to toss them at me and if I'm not sure I'll poll the readers. Please, feel free to unload on me.

Much love,

REVIEW

Tara