12. The Warning

James broke the atmosphere late at night and used his radio to tell the flight operator of New-New York that he was a Company Ranger and needed to land at their spaceport immediately. The man on the other end gave him immediate permission and James docked at the airlock before starting to unloaded his gear.

His legs felt a bit wobbly when he stood on ground that didn't have artificial gravity and he cursed his soft muscles. If Rain was as bad as everyone made her out to be he was going to die a quick death. Or maybe a slow one, he thought unhappily.

He had arrangements already made to stay at the Wellington, New-New York's finest five star hotel. When he arrived he was immediately bustled up to his three room suite, his bags carried by some young bell hop in a funny uniform. James held back a snicker as the kid adjusted the uncomfortable red hat strapped to his head and lifted the bags.

The room was enormous and plush. King sized bed in the bedroom, along with all the creature comforts. Holovision set, immense chest of drawers, a bathroom off to the left. The bathroom had a separate shower and a jacuzzi. Even the toilet and sink were fancy.

James examined the rest of the rooms, finding overstuffed leather furniture, a gas fireplace, another holovision set, small kitchen and a tiny refrigerator full of expensive treats, drinks and snacks.

He fought the urge to stuff a few snacks down his throat and down more than one bottle of expensive cognac. That won't help me at all, he told himself as he sat down in front of the holovision set to check the local news.

After flipping through a number of different stations, James found a story that might be a clue. A young woman with hair that looked like plastic from too much hairspray was standing in front of a bar.

"... was attacked tonight while out with friends. No one was badly injured, but the attacker did knock one woman unconscious and cruelly cut all the hair off another with a large knife," the young newscaster was saying. "When a few of the women's male friends arrived to help, they too were attacked. The attacker was described as a large man with long dark hair. Approximately six foot five and two hundred and fifteen pounds. If you see this..."

James flipped the channel looking for more news. He finally came across something worth paying attention to.

Police officers could be seen inside a room that was blocked off with tape. A young blonde woman was sobbing uncontrollably into the chest of a man whose features were stoically set in harsh lines, the side of his face bandaged. A slight tinge of blood had seeped through the white gauze. A young man was staring, eyes wide and mouth gaping at the open door, his hands shaking.

"The events that transpired here tonight are brutal in every sense of the word. The police will not allow us to move our cameras into the hotel room but if you look inside," the camera angle changed so you could just barely make out what was inside the room, "you can see the feet of the woman that was killed on the bed.

"We have been told that the young couple died of knife wounds. Also, the young man's back was broken." The news man turned to the camera slowly, his face a perfect mask of indifference.

"A young woman was seen leaving the premises at the time of the murder. Police are searching for her, and she is the prime suspect at the time. This is a computer generated image of the woman compiled by eye witnesses."

A 3-D rendering of Rain appeared on the screen and James knew he'd found his quarry.

"The woman is believed to be armed and dangers," the man was saying. "If you see her, do not approach her. Contact your local police department and let them handle everything."

James flipped off the HV and went to bed. He laid beneath the blankets, a smug smile playing over his lips. I've got her, he thought to himself. Too bad those saps pissed her off before I got here, though.

------

Riddick stood as far away from the cameras as possible. No one had noticed him, and he wanted to keep it that way. Rain's little "example" had left quite a mess.

Anne had walked in on Nick and Gina's bodies a few hours ago. Everyone had just thought they were sleeping in, but then Anne had gotten worried and opened the door. She was sobbing into Walker's chest right now.

Shooting a disgusted look at the police, Riddick turned on his heel and slipped back into his room. He went to the window and looked down. It was only a ten foot drop or so, he calculated. He shoved the window up, swung his legs over the edge, and jumped down, landing in a crouch and rolling on his shoulder to absorb the shock.

He popped back up onto his feet and began looking for traces of Rain's scent. Riddick sniffed her out easily, even among the other smells of the city, and quickly found himself standing at the door of Rhea's Ring. It looked dingy and run down, but he knew that didn't matter. There were always worse places you'd stayed in if you'd been a Ranger.

Riddick shoved open the door and stepped inside. A bored looking desk clerk sat behind the counter, an old paperback book in his hands. The man looked up from his book for moment and then back down.

"Looking for a woman named Rain," Riddick stated, stepping up to the counter.

The man studiously ignored him, and Riddick drew his shiv and used the sharp point to push the book down.

The man's eyes were wide now and he hurriedly gave Riddick directions to the room.

------

Rain sat on her bed, watching the beat up HV. She'd spotted the news about the bar fight. The guys had obviously been too embarrassed to say a woman had beat them all down. She smirked as one man recounted the sheer size of the attacker. Rain looked down at herself critically. She was tall for a woman, but no where near six foot five. More like five foot seven... and definitely female, not male.

Rain's head shot up when she felt the familiar presence of Riddick and then her door was flung open and he stood there, looking slightly annoyed. Fear crept through her, despite herself.

She might be strong and fast, but she knew if it came right down to it, Riddick would win in a fight between them.

She rolled backwards away from him on the bed, folding herself into a carefully crouched position, her hand resting on the handle of her blade. "Is there a problem, Riddick?" she asked, watching him carefully. There was something wrong. He hadn't seemed mad after she'd killed the young couple, but he seemed angry, or at least disturbed, now.

Riddick leaned against the doorjamb nonchalantly, watching Rain. She was coiled to spring if the need arose, but he only watched her, making no attempt to attack her.

He stepped forward into the room and gently closed the door. "They found Nick and Gina," he said slowly.

She wasn't surprised. "I knew they would be found sooner or later. Sooner is less than pleasant, but it can't be helped."

"How are you gonna deal with that? They have a 3-D rendition of you and it's posted all over the HV. Probably being stuck to every flat surface in the area by now, too." He watched her, but still no emotion showed on her face.

"I've got plans. You sound almost worried about me. Are you?" she asked, only half teasing.

He shrugged. "I know what they'll do to you when The Company finds out you've been captured. They'll send someone over here pronto to collect you, and then you'll either be executed or locked up in Slam for all eternity." His face changed abruptly, becoming a hard mask. "That's not something I'd wish on you." He sneered. "But I would wish it on some other choice people."

Rain nodded slightly.

"Speaking of my plans," she suddenly said. "I need to check on the operator."

Rain slid off the bed gracefully and made to step by him to the door. Her head spun as she suddenly found herself pinned against the wall, Riddick's hard body pressed against hers and his hands flattened against the wall on either side of her head.

She was trapped.

"What are you doing?" she breathed. He was so close she could feel his hot breath sliding across her cheek.

Riddick leaned his face in close then drew back before leaning in again. He breathed in the scent of her hair and skin, and she knew he could smell her fear. Knew he could feel it in his head.

"You're afraid," he whispered, inhaling her scent again. "Most days, I'd take that as a compliment, but today I want you to realize that I'm far from your biggest problem."

A feeling of the familiar washed over her. Something in his face. She didn't know what it was, but it had her thinking he suddenly looked like her mother. Shaking the feeling way, she asked, "What's my biggest problem?"

"Getting of this rock," he answered, once again leaning in and out, his nearness intimidating her. "Findin' a way off this rock. The Company."

She nodded, swallowing hard. "I know. But I've got one and two covered."

"Do you?"

"Uh huh. I do. And I could make sure everything is panning out all right if you'd move." The last was said with a touch of annoyance, and Rain wondered if she'd be forced to surge his mind with ugly images.

A look that Rain couldn't decipher crossed Riddick's face and then he stepped away, his hands dropping to his sides. He stood a few feet away and she felt the mental distance that was quickly separating them.

She took in a deep breath and shoved her tangled hair out of her face.

"Remember what I said," he growled darkly.

She nodded, and with a swiftness she was just beginning to understand, he was gone.