11

His blade pressed deeper into my throat, and my neck leaned back some.

"What could you possibly want to talk about? How did you even get in here?" he asked, and I remained silent for a few seconds.

"I am more than just a prisoner. If you doubt my intentions then kill me now, but that will only get you further from what you want and closer to death." I replied. There was a screaming out in the distance, and he looked up for a second. The traps were serving their purpose. He looked unsure, but cautious and dangerous as well. He leaned back quickly and grabbed some cuffs from his counter, and I did not move as he cuffed my hands together. "Speak." I lifted my head some and crossed my feet together, and he remained on his knees before me.

"I need to be free of Santana completely so I can fully help you capture Riddick." I replied and he shook his head as I spoke.

"No no no, I got you your freedom out of chains." he replied. I slowly shook my head.

"I am not free, if they can still put their hands on me anytime they wish. I will help you catch Riddick alive so you can get what you want, if you just help me by keeping them off my back." I replied. He didn't look convinced.

"How did you come across them anyways…you seem to be more than you let on." he told. "And Riddick doesn't seem threatened by you if he let you live."

I nodded leaning slowly on the wall beside the bed.

"I am what is called an Aquadian." I replied. He tilted his head some.

"You mean that water race that's gone extinct?" he asked. I shook my head.

"Our home was ravaged by necromongers and so we are spread across the galaxy. I was captured by Santana and because of the lack of water I have been very weak, weak enough for them to hurt me for as long as they wish. That is why they rarely ever give me water because they know what I am capable of." I replied. He stared at me intently now.

"Is that how you got in here, by using water?" he asked. I nodded.

"I harvested what little water I could from the air so I could come to you. I may be free to walk around, but even that could be taken away from me and I am forced beneath Diaz again." I replied and I could see his face tense a bit. He knew what he did to me. I would not be surprised if Dahl had spoken to him on my behalf to get me free. "I will help you a hundred percent if you help me."

"What exactly are you wanting me to do?" he asked. I looked down not really knowing what I wanted him to do specifically. I wanted him on my side so if I needed him I could use him.

"Your son trusted me… I want you to do the same." I replied, and looked up at him. Boss Johns looked at me deeply now upon hearing my words. I did admit that even when stuck on a planet with humans and Riddick, I did have somewhat of a soft spot for Johns, because he was a player in the chase. He took care of me while Riddick was out playing escaped convict. I do not fault my furyan mate for wanting to play his game, but he only played it so he could see what he was dealing with.

"Yet he didn't make it off the planet." Boss Johns replied and I shook my head.

"No. I was not really there when things got bad." I lied softly and looked away inwardly hitting myself for lying. He nodded.

"I'll watch your back if you watch me and my teams." he replied, and I nodded.

"Deal." I replied, and he nodded and moved over me and removed the cuffs. I nodded and slid off the bed, only for him to grab my hand.

"Wait," he replied, and I looked back at him and his hand on mine, "Stay." I blinked at his words, and I nodded slowly. Maybe we needed to seal our deal this way, but what he did surprised me greatly. Once I had lied down in the bed with him, he rolled over on his side and pulled the blankets over our bodies and went to sleep. He didn't touch me, or look at me with lust. Daddy Johns you surprise me every hour. I knew this would cause problems in the morning, but frankly I didn't care. I smiled some at what the morning would bring: Dead bodies and mad men. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep hearing another of Santana's men screaming in the dark.

The next morning, I awoke to Diaz' shouting. By now Boss Johns had his arm around my hip, but he had awoken as well to Diaz' tone. I moved from the bed and moved to unlock his door and quickly grab my clothes. I began to get dress and he did the same.

"Where the fuck is she!" Diaz roared.

"The bear's up." he commented. Once we were both dressed we moved from the room. As we did Lockspur, Dahl, and Moss were coming down the hall. When they saw us together they all just stopped and stared at me. I smiled and gave them a thumbs up.

"It's okay. I'm on you guys team now." I replied and turned and moved down the hall leaving Johns alone. All three of his partners looked at him in unison and he cleared his throat.

"Nothing happened." he merely replied. I exited the ship watching as Santana and Diaz were coming out the stock room. Other men were pulling three bodies from the field. When they set eyes on me Diaz' seemed to widen the most and he came over to me, and placed his hand tightly around my neck and pulled me close to him.

"Where the fuck were you?" he asked. 'Making friends' almost replied.

"They needed my help about plans to catch Riddick." I lied.

"Bull shit!" Diaz growled. Santana was beside him in a heartbeat.

"No no no. We all talk out plans to catch Riddick, unless you were talking behind our backs. You wouldn't do that now would you, Athena?" he asked slowly placing his hand on his bent knife which was strapped to his pants.

"Get your hands off her." Boss Johns called out as he and his team moved from their ship. Santana glanced at him.

"This shit has nothing to do with you."

"It is when you are threatening the only person who can help us catch Riddick." he replied.

"This is our prisoner." Diaz said.

"Oh not anymore." Dahl stated, and Santana looked at with a frown.

"What did you say lesbo?" he asked.

"You heard her, she isn't your prisoner anymore." Boss Johns said. Diaz suddenly turned me around and pulled me to his chest, as he pulled his gun out.

"Fuck you." he replied and now everyone pulled out their guns. I struggled some against Diaz and looked at Santana.

"Come on Santana think about this. You will all have money after you catch Riddick, enough money that you can have anything you want any woman you desire. Free me completely so I can help you with all my abilities and then we can all go our separate ways."

"What makes you think you're getting off this planet alive?" Diaz asked.

"What makes you think you are?" Dahl asked, and I looked at Santana.

"We had a lot of fun. Now let's get serious. They will take me to wherever I want to go, and you can find a new toy to play with." I replied. Santana was thinking it over. I knew he only got rid of his toys by killing them. But all I needed was him and Diaz to have a disagreement. Santana looked at me sharply before nodding.

"Alright." he replied. Diaz looked at him.

"Are you fucking serious?" he asked and Santana nodded.

"Let the bitch go. You will find more like her." he replied, and Diaz' hold tightened around my neck for a split second before reluctantly letting me go. I slid from his hold and inhaled some moving towards the middle of the group. I knew now I needed to be very careful around Santana.

"I will go out into the sands now and look for any more traps that may be out there." I replied. Santana shrugged.

"I've already gotten the rest of them." he replied, and I looked at him.

"No you haven't." I replied. I needed to see what lies beneath the sand so I would know what we were dealing with when the rains came. There were also large boulders and rocks and caves out there, and I knew Riddick would find me.