A/N Hey guys! I trust everything is well in your world? Mine has been crazy busy (Christmas season is upon us! Eeek!) I also was a little hesitant about this chapter. I really liked this scene in the movie…but it's no longer in theaters and I won't have a hard copy until the DVD is released….So it's going to be slight AU. I hope that's alright! Anyways, I still don't own Riddick, but Reana is mine. Enjoy!

"I've come to collect."

These four simple words sent a terrifying shiver down my back. Santana was finally going to make good on all his threats. My gaze travelled back and forth between Riddick and Santana. Both looked tense, although Riddick looked like he was enjoying himself a little too much. He sat back, with his arms still slightly suspended by the chains, and regarded Santana with a small smirk. This seemed to goad Santana, as he began running his hand down the back of his blade.

"Not yet, you're not."

I whipped my head around to see Boss Johns and the rest of the mercs coming through the front door. I have never been so happy to see mercs before, and I probably never would again, but for now…they were a welcome sight. Boss Johns came up to Santana's right and gave him a hard stare. Dahl and Diaz stood off to the right, both ready to spring into action, should either of their bosses get attacked.

"We had a deal. I get him first." Boss Johns voice was low, but held an underlying threat.

Santana stood up and little straighter, and his grip momentarily tightened on the blade. He took a single step forward and brought one finger close to John's face.

"Ten minutes." With that, he turned on his heel and made his way to the back of the room. When he passed me, his eyes lit up and he took a step in my direction; only to be stopped short by a menacing growl. I smiled and placed my hand a top Pard's head.

"Careful, Santana. We already know how well you can fight a dog." My small smile twisted into an evil grin, when he gulped. He clenched his teeth and kept walking. I stroked Pard's fur to calm him down. He looked up at me with an adoring look and licked my hand. When I felt eyes on me, my eyes lifted to meet Riddicks; he nodded slightly, as if he was proud. I raised an eyebrow at him, but let my gaze wander back to Boss Johns, who had come to kneel down in front of Riddick.

"I want some answers." He started; his hands resting on his bent knees, clenched and unclenched into fists.

Riddick's silver eyes were a light with mild amusement. He cocked his head to the side, as if confused.

"What about?" He asked with fake sincerity.

"You know what about." Boss Johns nearly growled. "I need to know what happened ten years ago."

My brow scrunched in confusion. Had Riddick really been on the run that long? When I looked back towards the man in chains, his face took on the look of….regret? The look was gone fast and was soon replaced with a hard stare. It was a couple of minutes before either of them spoke. I jumped a little, when Riddick's deep voice seemed to boom through the room.

"Transport ship. There was a crash. Lotta people killed. The few who survived escaped to another planet."

"What about John." Boss Johns took a deep breath. "What about my boy?"

Riddick let out a low chuckle. "John's little boy seemed to have a problem; couldn't be the hero, without a little kick from morphine."

"What?" Boss Johns seemed shocked. His face twisted into a look of agony. I almost took a step forward, my heart breaking for him, when I was stopped by Riddick's next words.

"Stop holding him up on a pedestal and face reality. Your son was no saint. Tried to use a kid as bait. He was a drug riddled merc first, and a human second."

"No. No…my son was a good kid."

Riddick shook his head, in pity. "Think what you want; but the truth remains the same."

The silence that followed was deafening. Nobody dared to speak or move, as Boss Johns processed what Riddick had told him. It was hard for a parent to come to terms that their child was deemed a monster.

"Enough of this pity party."

Santana stalked forward and pushed a stricken Boss Johns out of the way. When he thumped the glass box onto the floor, I sprung forward. Just when I was about to reach him, I was brought up short, when the cool blade was pressed to my neck.

"Do not think for one moment, that I wouldn't cut off your head, whore." He spat at me.

There were a series of low growls behind me, but I didn't dare move my head, for fear that the sharp blade would cut my skin. My chest rose and fell, as I remained motionless; Santana's eyes were locked with mine. Hatred and anger bubbled inside me. This man had caused me pain for months on end; kidnapping me, torturing me…killing the closest thing I had to family and now he threatened my life.

The staring contest was broken, when Pard let out a sharp whine of pain; something in me snapped and with the blade forgotten, I jumped back, to see one of the mercs standing over Pard, as he lay panting in pain.

"Reana!"

The shock made the world slow down, into slow motion. It was the first time I had ever heard Riddick say my name. My head turned in time to see Santana's shiny blade arc over me, poised for a deadly strike. With everything slowed down, I had time to think. As if it were nothing, my arm came up to block the strike. I hit with enough force to send Santana backwards a couple of steps. His look of shock, quickly twisted into one of pure fury. He swung again, this time aiming for my middle. I bent slightly and took a step back. I quickly ducked his next few strikes; it would seem his anger was making him sluggish. When he failed to even nick me, he growled out in frustration. A jingling caught my attention. Riddick was banging his chains in frustration. I turned back when Santana yelled. The blade cut across my left cheek and sent me reeling. I stumbled, as the world suddenly became normal speed. Santana snarled and lunged again, this time with more aggression. I had, thankfully, recovered and took a defensive stance. I had nothing to fight with, except my bare hands. I bared my teeth in a growl and tensed; it was fight or die.

Santana let out a sharp laugh. "Stupid girl. You think you can beat me? You've become more trouble than your bounty is worth. I guess they will have to happy with your head!"

With that, I let out a howl of anger and attacked. I had caught him off guard and I used that to my advantage. My fist came up and collided with the right side of his already bruised cheek. He fell back, losing his grip on the sword as he went. Without hesitation, I jumped and took hold of the heavy blade. I hefted it in my hand, testing the balance. Santana bellowed and went for the gun strapped to his leg. He raised the gun and cocked it. By this time, my animal had taken over. Blind with rage, I could feel my arm swing through the air. For a moment, I thought I had missed. There was a couple seconds of silence, and then a blood curdling scream filled the air. I looked to see where Santana was standing. He was holding his arm, a look of agony on his face. My gaze swiftly went down his arm, to the bloody stump where his hand should have been. He let out a series of wails, and was pleading with our silent audience. It was only then, that I was aware of the many eyes on me. They ranged from shocked, to downright sick, but I didn't care. My gaze fell on the pathetic merc; I took a couple of steps forward.

"You bitch! I'll kill you."

My lip curled up into a sneer, as I tightened my grip on the now bloody blade.

"I really should thank you." I said, as my gaze burned into him. "You woke up the true me. You've shown me what I have always known. It's sad to see a once great man turned into a sniveling, blood thirsty merc. I can only think of one way to repay you." I spat the last word. Santana's eyes bulged with the realization of his imminent death. He sucked in a deep breath to rebut, but I didn't give him the chance. I put all my anger…all my sorrow…and all my fury into my swing. I was rewarded with the feeling of the blade slicing through flesh. When I had fully twisted around, I turned to look at Santana; my tormentor. He was deathly still, a look of shock stuck on his face. Slowly…ever so slowly, he slumped forward, his head falling from his body, in a mass of blood. There was a thud, and his head landing in his glass box; shutting his head in forever. Oh the irony….

With the stillness in the room, I knew something had changed….I had changed. Gone was the fear riddled child….ultimately replaced by a fierce woman, hell bent on survival. My heavy breathing was the only thing heard in the silence. I stood up straight, and swiped a hand across my now bloodied face.

It was over. It was finally over. My shoulders relaxed slightly, as a huge wave of relief washed through me. I was free and I would kill anyone who would try and change that.

Time to face the music…..

I turned to look back at the shocked faces of the mercs. Apparently I wasn't the only one who witnessed my change. No one said anything, but there was a low chuckle that filled the room. I looked over to see Riddick's shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. For some strange reason, I wanted to join him. My heart skipped a beat when his gaze locked onto mine.

"Atta girl…"

He said it so low, that only he and I were able to hear it. My chest swelled with pride at his comment, and I stood a little straighter.

"What you see before you, is a free woman. Anyone want to change that?" I asked boldly. When no one spoke, I nodded and began to wipe the blood off the blade. There seemed to be a collective sigh…as if Santana was a great burden suddenly lifted.

"Now that that has been taken care of…" Dahl began. She looked as relieved as I felt. Santana had been a pain for both of us.

Boss Johns stood with arms crossed over his chest, settling Riddick with a glare; he looked unfazed by what had just happened.

"What do we do about him?" Dahl nodded to were Riddick was still chained up. Now that Santana was gone, Riddick and I were pretty free game.

"We can't let him go." Diaz said gruffly. For such a big guy, he seemed to scare easily.

I sat crossed legged, with Pard by my side, as I continued to clean my new weapon. I stared down at the blade, not wanting to meet Riddick's searing gaze. It was a little unnerving…and a little exciting to feel it.

"Why not." Riddick said mockingly. "My offer still stands. Two power cells. Two ships. You leave on one, and me and the girl take the other."

My head shot up in surprise. That was new. Riddick's gaze was currently settle on Boss Johns, who had yet to say anything.

"Or we could leave you here. Make a nice , little, cozy place." Dahl sneered.

"No one wants to be here for very much longer."

"Why the hell not?" Diaz countered.

Riddick glanced at him, with a small smirk. "The rain."

"The rain? Is the little princess afraid to get his 'hair' wet." Vargas barked out in a laugh.

I rolled my eyes. "It's not the rain dumbass. It's what comes with it."

That seemed to get everyone's attention. Everyone seemed to tense, and look around the room.

"They could just be saying that to trick us." Diaz cleared his throat.

"Who you trying to convince, Diaz? Us or yourself?" I grinned at him.

The room grew silent again, as the mercs tried to figure out what to do. They knew that letting Riddick go was dangerous, but the consequences of not doing so….well….

"Fuck this. I say we kill them both and collect." Vargas nearly shouted.

"I dare you to try." I glared up at him. He seemed taken aback by my low growl. I smiled; I liked this.

There was a loud crash of thunder, quickly followed by the pitter patter of the rain on the tin roof. No one dared move a muscle, as we listened for anything out of the ordinary. I was beginning to doubt Riddick's warning when nothing came. The rain was normally soothing, but this time it brought me nothing but anxiety.

Diaz let out a small laugh. "See. It was all a blu-"

There was a loud crash and the roof dented in. The mercs each raised their guns, afraid of something popping in. I jumped, and tightened my grip on the blade. Pard let out a low growl, and his ears flattened against his head.

Everyone tensed when the sound of metal on metal banged. Riddick banged his chains on the pipes again, emitting a gravely laugh. It sent of shiver of dread through me, as his silver eyes locked with mine.

"Now the fun begins."

A/N It has finally happened! Santana is dead! Muahahahaha! What did you guys think? I loved the death scene in the movie, but I thought that I had put Reana through so much, that she deserved a little vengeance. Don't hesitate to let me know what you think!