Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Richard B. Riddick.
The next few moment were a rush of bodies as the convicts readied. Heavy weapons were left behind in favor of carrying light for the sprint across the dangerous terrain. Riddick, already having picked up his weapons of choice, walked over to where Harry was standing with the hell hounds. Riddick noticed the smaller man was sending a death glare at Kyra who was across the room with the other convicts. When Harry caught sight of Riddick he began practically vibrating with excitement as he shifted his weight from foot to foot, grinning maniacally at Riddick as he approached.
"When I open the vents, we go. No stopping. Not even for your cats. Got it?"
"We won't be the problem," Harry replied, reaching out to pat one of the beasts that was still growling softly at the panicking men. "What's the plan for when we get to the other side?"
"If we move fast we should make it before the guards. All we have to do is hot wire the shit then we're out of here."
Harry frowned up at him. "I told you Riddick. I have to go to Necropolis. I thought you got that."
Riddick smirked at Harry,"But no one ever said you had to go with the necros to get there. I know where they are on Helion Prime. I've been there, I know how to get in."
"That is... a really good point. I didn't think of that," Harry smiled suddenly, "Does that mean you're coming with me?"
Riddick looked away from Harry's knowing look, suddenly very interested in the buttons on the control panel. "No. We just happen to be going to the same place, in the same ship, with the same goal. That's all. Don't read any more in to this than there is."
"Mhmm. I understand alright," Harry replied still grinning. "Shall we run then?"
Riddick nodded eager to finish the uncomfortable conversation, and reached over to slam his hand on the control panel. One side of the circular room began to groan as the metal shifted and opened to reveal wide slits. A gust of air rushed in the vents bringing in dirt and dust from the outside. Riddick waited for it to settle before moving over to the vents and raising his goggles to better see the landscape ahead of them.
"Move out!" Riddick roared before sprinting out.
Riddick and Harry easily set the pace with the four hell hounds fanned out, two behind and one on each side of them as they ran. Riddick noticed that two of the adults had picked up the cubs and were carrying them in their jaws as they ran. The planet was eerily silent except for the the footfalls and panting of the men as they tried to keep up. It was dark and the Furyan vision helped him to navigate where others might have fallen.
They ran fast to keep ahead of the coming sun. Riddick was impressed with Harry's agility. The man was small but fast, leaping wide crags and scaling the black walls that seemed to spring up around them. Harry was panting, but still had a wide smile on his face as he ran.
Even though Harry was running faster, he dropped back slightly allowing Riddick to take lead as he knew where they were going. The land was just as dangerous as it looked. They easily navigated through the large crevices and lava pits, but the inmates behind them were not so lucky and more than one Riddick heard the shout of a man down. Riddick was surprised to see the hounds climbing the vertical walls as their claws actually punctured the rock.
Adrenaline pumped faster, helping him focus and regulating his breath as he pushed himself forward. It was exhilarating and he could see why Harry was enjoying himself. This is what he was made for, what he lived for. Knowing he was racing the guards in the tunnels below them and the scorching sun behind him with his life on the line.
"Riddick, look!"
Harry's shout made Riddick turn to see the sun was rising above the horizon. He could already feel the heat start to rise, even though the sun's flares had barely touched the sky. Where the light touched the planet large jets of gas were shooting up from the ground. It looked like the entire planet was lighting on fire behind them, which Riddick supposed it was.
"We need to move faster!" Riddick yelled at Harry as he jumped over another lava pit.
As volcanic ash began to fall around them, Riddick caught sight of movement a few meters to his left. There in the cliff wall was a large metal door covered in soot and ash, almost invisible against the land scape. He motioned to Harry to make him aware of the problem before moving to stand behind the door as it slowly began to open. Harry ducked behind a large outcropping when a burst of gunfire came from behind the open door.
Riddick heard a scream as one of the convicts got caught in the open. Drawing his knives, Riddick crouched behind the door and moved around the metal to force his weapon quickly into the gut of the shooter before jerking it up as he stood, ceasing the fire as the man dropped dead to the ground. Riddick could see the heat signature in the tunnel and knew there were still six more guards to deal with. He motioned for Harry to follow him as he entered the door.
AD -*- AD -*- AD -*- AD
The only thing better than the rush of being able to run full out was watching the man in front of him do the same. Harry was in awe of the way Riddick moved. It strongly resembled the way the cats at his side ran. For all his size and strength, Riddick was still graceful as he ran and jumped just in front of Harry who was all too happy to run behind him and enjoy the view. And what a great view it is.
When Riddick motioned about the guard Harry stepped aside. Harry was a natural leader, he always had been even when he was mortal. In the years since he had lead armies into battle and had almost always chosen the winning side. Whether they won because he chose them or not he had never actually known.
While it wasn't in his nature to let another lead him, Harry wanted to see how Riddick worked in battle. He had only seen Riddick fight against a few unarmed prisoners, though he guessed a fight against the guards would not require much more effort. However, if Death was impressed the man had to be spectacular. Note to self: how does Death know about Riddick?, Harry thought to himself.
Shots rang out as one of the guards got off a few rounds in the direction of the inmates before being disemboweled. Harry could hear the shouts of the convicts behind him, but ignored them in favor of following Riddick through the door with the hell hounds following at his heels. Harry entered a narrow tunnel in the rock, the sounds of shouting echoing along the walls. Flashes of light and the sound of guns firing were coming from just up ahead around a bend in the tunnel.
Harry headed toward the battle, itching for some action. When he rounded the corner Harry took in the scene quickly. Three of the guards were on the ground with no movement, another had been disarmed and was shouting and gripping his thigh. Riddick was currently fighting with a large greasy man with a gun using his knives and the final guards had decided to make a break for it and upon seeing Harry come around the corner, turned tail and ran in the direction of the hangar.
Making his decision to go after the fleeing man, Harry started sprinting down the tunnel past Riddick after the escaping guard. He quickly over took the man and tackled the man driving him to the ground and quickly snapped his neck before the man could even register he was down. A sudden silence and foot steps behind him alerted Harry to Riddick's presence.
As he stood large hands gripped his hips and whirled him around. "What the- mmph." Harry's words were cut off as hips lips were claimed and all thoughts fled as Riddick devoured him. Harry ran his hands up the large biceps and across the mans broad shoulders to rest at the back of Riddick's neck.
A gasp from down the tunnel had both men on alert. They turned to look down the tunnel to see Kyra with a shocked look as the rest of the convicts came around the corner.
Harry looked back up at Kyra with a smug expression, before turning back to Riddick. "We need to move. But we will be finishing this later." Harry stretched back up to nip lightly at Riddick's slightly swollen mouth, chucking at the growl he caused before moving away.
While Riddick glared, Harry addressed the remaining five convicts including Kyra. "If this was all the guards, the way to the ship will be clear now. We still need to move fast. We need to be off planet before the sun hits the hangar or we will be fried. Now move!" While Harry didn't the deep voice of Riddick he still commanded attention with a presence borne of experience and they were soon moving again, Riddick in the lead with Harry and the hell hounds just behind followed by the convicts several paces behind.
The tunnel, while significantly less fun than running the obstacle course that was the surface of the planet, helped them gain time without having to navigate the dangerous landscape outside. They soon reached the hangar which appeared to be a large hole carved out of the mountain. In the center of the area there was a large space ship, and the walls of the room were lined with supply crates and a control panel on the far wall near the large hangar door.
Riddick lead them directly over to the ship and opened the entry ramp. Harry had been on space ships before, but this one was very different and he was hit with the fact that he really was in a new universe. Space travel on Earth had steadily improved since he was a mortal, but they had never actually found another planet with life on it. The argument was still alive and well as to whether there actually were other life forms out there when The Plucking happened.
Harry looked around at the unfamiliar technology was very glad he would be leaving with Riddick as he did not have the time to be learning how to work everything. As it was Riddick had headed directly for the front of the ship and started flipping switches and checking gauges. Without turning around Riddick ordered the convicts to start packing necessary supplies on to the ship, and the men rushed to do his bidding.
"Everything is set in here, we just need to get the supplies for the pods on board," Riddick said, addressing Harry.
"Um...pods?" Harry had no clue what Riddick was talking about.
"Yeah, the pods," Riddick gestured to eight steel doors that lined the left side of the ship. Riddick had lowered his goggles again, but Harry could feel him looking at him with intent. "You don't know what they are, do you?"
"Yeah...that would be a no."
"They are for long distance jumps. Cryo sleep, so they won't age when it takes years to travel from one planet to another."
"Makes sense. I won't be going in one though. Just so we are clear," Harry told him.
"No, I won't be either. They are for the others. It's not too far to Helion Prime, we should be able to make the trip in days. The others don't know where we are going though. We need to get everything on board and get off planet before the sun catches us or the necros show up."
With that they both headed out into the hangar just in time to see the shadows thickening on the back wall as Death made it's appearance. Harry smiled as the shadows churned and shifted showing Death's excitement, and knew they were not going to make it off planet before the necros showed up. Nothing got it more excited than slaughter. Harry chuckled fondly and turned to Riddick who was watching Death warily. It still amazed Harry that Riddick could see it, and he just knew there was a reason there, he just had to find it.
"Are you ready? This is going to be fun." Harry told him, sharing in Death's excitement.
"You have a very twisted definition of fun, you know that?" Riddick asked but Harry could tell by the way the larger man moved that he was anticipating the battle as well. Harry laughed full out, drawing the attention of the other convicts. He reached up to bring Riddick down to his level before drawing the man into a kiss, missing the look of fury on Kyra's face when Riddick returned the kiss with fervor.
They both drew back, Harry slightly breathless and still grinning and seeing an answering smirk on Riddick's lips. Harry briefly wished he could see the mans silver eyes and wondered why he wore the goggles.
Harry turned to the the convicts still staring at the two men with astounded looks. Harry hardened his features and addressed the men and Kyra. "We are about to have company. We can't get off planet until they are dealt with so take them out fast. We have only minutes before the sun hits the hangar and we need to be gone before then. Get your weapons and get into position." Harry turned to the hell hounds. "Spike, you're with me. Put one in the ship with the cubs and the others help out where they can. No cons unless they attack you. Kill everyone else." Spike butted his head on Harry's thigh in confirmation, before letting out a series of chirps to the other cats who moved to do as they were told.
The convicts were still staring at Harry when Riddick roared,"He said fucking move! Now!" The men jumped and run to take positions behind the emptied metal bins with guns pointed towards the doors while Riddick and Harry split up to take either side of the hangar door. Riddick took the left with the control panel unsheathing his knives from the harness strapped to his back. The knives were a matched set where each of the 8 inch blades wrapped along his and curved out along the back of Riddick's hand as he held the handle in his palm. They looked to be designed for slashing rather than stabbing.
Harry and Spike took the right, Harry summoning the Elder Wand as he moved. While he didn't need a wand for everyday magic, in a large battle he used the wand because it amplified and focused his magic. Harry nodded to Riddick letting him know he was ready, and the door began to separate from the center revealing a squadron of what Harry could only assume were the necromongers.
On the runway there were over 30 soldiers spread out in no particular formation, the closest being only a few meters away. The soldiers where clothed in black armor holding guns unfamiliar to Harry. In the center of the group was a hunched figure with a glowing blue circle in the center of its head and it was emitting a loud screeching noise.
Gunfire came from behind him as the convicts opened fire on the necros, the first to go down was the loud creature. The necros returned fire aiming at the hidden convicts, not yet having seen Riddick or Harry. Deciding that problem should be rectified Harry raised his wand and began to fire into the enemies., catching sight of Riddick moving out of the shelter of the hangar and tearing through the soldiers on his side with his blades.
Harry waited a moment to step out so he could see the way Riddick fought. If he thought watching Riddick run was impressive, watching him kill was mesmerizing. The man moved through the soldiers throwing his body around with grace, slashing at the men through the seams in their armor. After watching him throw a man twice his size over his shoulder, Harry knew it was time to join in.
With Spike at his side, Harry rushed into combat dodging the plasma waves from the weapons of the necros. He fired spells rapidly at the soldiers but saw more coming from behind a nearby spire. Harry and Riddick naturally gravitated toward one another, covering each others backs against the coming soldiers. Around them bodies littered the floor runway. Harry could still hear the gunfire from the convicts in the hangar keeping the necros from the ship.
Another wave of soldiers came at them and Harry and Riddick were separated. In the onslaught Harry was being forced to retreat back towards the hangar. Unfortunately they were also fighting time. Harry looked up to see the sun was rising fast, already the light was touching the tops of the surrounding spires.
"Riddick! The sun!" Harry shouted. Momentarily distracted, Harry didn't notice the necromonger approaching silently from the rear until he was grabbed and a knife was slowly pressing into his throat. Harry still hand his wand and could easily escape the man. It was clear the soldier had discounted Harry's strength because of his size. Harry stayed where he was, and took the unique opportunity to study the man's soul via the physical contact.
"CEASE FIRE!" the man commanded. Miraculously they actually did, even the convicts. Riddick turned from the soldier he had just decapitated. While he was sorting out the information he was gathering, Harry noticed Kyra slowly approaching from the shadows inside the hangar. The man behind him addressed Riddick directly. "Surrender or he dies."
"Why the fuck should I care about a fucking convict?" Riddick growled at the man.
"You forget. I know you Riddick. You are a warrior. You wouldn't trust just anyone at your back." Harry couldn't see the man, but he could hear the smugness in his voice. "Now surrender or I slit his throat."
Riddick took a step closer and the man behind him pressed the knife in harder causing blood to flow down Harry's neck. "Come any closer and he's dead anyway." Harry saw the grip on Riddick's knives falter.
"If you knew Riddick, you have remembered an important fact," Kyra's voice rang out across the silent battlefield. Harry flicked his gaze over to her in time to see her raise her gun. "Riddick travels alone."
And then she fired.
AN: So i totally jinxed myself last chapter by mentioning i was on a roll with posting. Sorry 'bout that. I was having trouble putting ideas to 'paper'.The good news is i have the next three chapters already planned out, so I shouldn't disappear again. (*knock on wood*) the next chapter SHOULD be ready this weekend.
By the way... 200 reviews? How awesome is that!?
thanks to Raelyn33 for pointing out the aorta mistake. i should of verified that before posting.